Mothers & Their Families
Pregnant and nursing mothers need access to support, encouragement, and information that provides them with all the necessary tools to meet their breastfeeding goals. Often much of that support comes from fathers and grandmothers, who need their own access to education about breastfeeding.
The CBC’s Mothers and Their Families Committee is currently focused primarily on providing information regarding where mothers and their families can find help when it is needed to overcome breastfeeding challenges, particularly after they have left the hospital and are home with their newborn. The CBC is participating on ZipMilk, a website that provides state-by-state contact information for local lactation professionals, mother-to-mother peer support, WIC offices, and hospital breastfeeding mothers groups. The Committee is also working on an informational handout regarding sources of support and information, with an initial goal of sending it home with all mothers who give birth in Baby-Friendly hospitals, and then widening distribution to all Connecticut hospitals.
Implementation strategies outlined by the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding include:
- Help pregnant women to learn about the importance of breastfeeding for their babies and themselves.
- Teach mothers to breastfeed.
- Encourage mothers to talk to their maternity care providers about plans to breastfeed.
- Support mothers to have time and flexibility to breastfeed.
- Encourage mothers to ask for help with breastfeeding when needed.
Breastfeeding in Public
If someone criticizes you for breastfeeding in public, check out the La Leche League’s website for possible ways to respond. Most of all, it is important to remember that you are meeting your baby’s needs. It isn’t possible to stay home all the time, and you can feel free to feed your baby while out and about. You should be proud of your commitment! Plus, no bottles and formula means fewer supplies to pack!
In Connecticut you are protected by state law to breastfeed your child in public (Connecticut General Statutes §46a-64). This law states that mothers can generally breastfeed at a time, place and manner of their choosing while in a place of public accommodation. They do not have to go to a special area or go into the restroom. They do not have to cover the baby with a towel or blanket. The owner, manager or employee of a place of public accommodation cannot request that the mother stop breastfeeding her baby, cover up, move to a different room or area, or leave. This law is enforced by the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO), which enforces anti-discrimination laws in the State of Connecticut. You have the option of filing a complaint with the CHRO. You can do this by calling the CHRO (1-800-477-5737) and you will be directed to a regional office where you can file a complaint.
Click here to read more.
In Connecticut you are protected by state law to breastfeed your child in public (Connecticut General Statutes §46a-64). This law states that mothers can generally breastfeed at a time, place and manner of their choosing while in a place of public accommodation. They do not have to go to a special area or go into the restroom. They do not have to cover the baby with a towel or blanket. The owner, manager or employee of a place of public accommodation cannot request that the mother stop breastfeeding her baby, cover up, move to a different room or area, or leave. This law is enforced by the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO), which enforces anti-discrimination laws in the State of Connecticut. You have the option of filing a complaint with the CHRO. You can do this by calling the CHRO (1-800-477-5737) and you will be directed to a regional office where you can file a complaint.
Click here to read more.
National Breastfeeding HotlineThe National Breastfeeding Helpline from the Office on Women’s Health has trained breastfeeding peer counselors to provide support by phone. The counselors can help answer common breastfeeding questions. They can also help you decide if you need to see a doctor or lactation consultant.
The Helpline is available for all breastfeeding mothers, partners, prospective parents, family members, and health professionals seeking to learn more about breastfeeding. The Helpline is open from Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., EST. If you call after hours, you will be able to leave a message, and a breastfeeding peer counselor will return your call on the next business day. Help is available in English or Spanish.Call 800-994-9662 for Support! |
Donor Milk & Milk BankingIf you can’t breastfeed and still want to give your baby human milk, the best and only safe place to go is to a human milk bank. You should never feed your baby breast milk that you get directly from another woman or through the Internet. A human milk bank can dispense donor human milk to you if you have a prescription from your doctor. Many steps are taken to ensure the milk is safe. Donor human milk provides the same precious nutrition and disease-fighting properties as your own breast milk.
You can find a human milk bank through the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA). HMBANA is a multidisciplinary group of health care providers that promotes, protects, and supports donor milk banking. HMBANA is the only professional membership association for milk banks in Canada, Mexico, and the United States and as such sets the standards and guidelines for donor milk banking for those areas. You can also contact HMBANA if you would like to donate breast milk. To find out if your insurance will cover the cost of the milk, call your insurance company or ask your doctor. If your insurance company does not cover the cost of the milk, talk with the milk bank to find out how payment can be made later on, or how to get help with the payments. A milk bank will never deny donor milk to a baby in need if it has the supply. DANBURY GUILFORD NEW LONDON & NORWICH |