Get personalized breastfeeding support from Board-certified lactation consultants. We offer both virtual appts using your phone or device and in-person appointments.
Breastfeeding offers several benefits for both moms and babies.
For babies, breastfeeding provides:
For moms, breastfeeding helps with:
As a bonus, breastfeeding is cost-effective, saving families the expense of formula. Plus, it's convenient when you're on the go.
Intermountain Health offers secure video and phone consultations with experienced lactation consultants to make breastfeeding an easier and more positive experience from latching on to milk supply.
Discover the advantages of our virtual lactation consultations:
More than 60% of mothers with babies in the NICU can’t provide enough milk to meet their baby’s needs.
You can donate milk to the Mother’s Milk Donation program at Intermountain Health and help save the lives of vulnerable babies.
When you’re establishing your milk supply, you can feed on demand, which translates into eight to 12 feedings every 24 hours (or more if your baby is cluster feeding).
By day four or five, your milk should be in, and your baby should be peeing five to eight times every 24 hours and having three to four poopy diapers.
Watch for signs that your baby is latched deeply, including having a wide gape, lips flanged out, and vigorous suck.
You should feel strong tugs and hear your baby swallow. At the end of a successful breastfeeding session, your baby will come off the breast asleep or satisfied, and your breasts should feel softer.
This decision is entirely up to you for your needs and goals. We generally recommend that you start pumping by the time your baby is two weeks of age. Start by pumping two times per day after breastfeeding. The average amount of milk collected is 0.5 - 1 oz. per pumping session.
After one to two weeks, you can adjust your pumping frequency to meet your milk storage goals and your baby’s needs.
For example, some moms pump after a morning feeding and get 4 - 6 oz., so they decide pumping just once or twice a day is plenty. Other moms get 0.5 - 1 oz. and decide to pump three to four times a day. It’s really up to you!
Four weeks of age is a good time because breastfeeding is usually well-established by then. It’s very much OK to wait longer, but sometimes babies develop a very strong preference to the breast and refuse the bottle.
Try having a significant other introduce the bottle and consistently give one bottle to your baby a day.
A plugged (or blocked) duct is an area of the breast where milk flow is obstructed. You might notice a hard lump or wedge-shaped area of engorgement that feels tender or painful.
Nursing frequently and completely emptying the breast is one way to prevent getting a blocked milk duct. But if you get a blocked milk duct:
Discover how Connect Care’s lactation support transformed one mother’s breastfeeding experience. Hear her story and see how our personalized care can help guide and support you.
Explore these breastfeeding resources to find personalized care for you and your baby.
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A new study by Dartmouth College has found another benefit for breastfeeding: infants who are breastfed have lower arsenic exposure than babies who are formula-fed.
Absolutely! You can and should get the flu shot. It is perfectly safe for you and your baby.