Lactation Services

Lactation Services

B.E.S.T. Support Group

B.E.S.T. "Breastfeeding Education, Support and Togetherness" Support Group is hosted by a lactation consultant, and meets weekly most Wednesdays and Fridays. Come and join other new moms with their babies for this informal group.

B.E.S.T. is a great resource for information and support for the continuation of breastfeeding, and assistance with challenging situations. B.E.S.T. is free. You may now register online at shadygrovebaby.com or you may call 1-800-542-5096 for the time, date, location and space availability of future sessions. We have a maximum capacity of 9 mother-baby couples for each session, and want to ensure adequate space for each mom and baby, so please be sure to register for any session you wish to attend!

Warm-line Telephone Assistance

Please feel free to call 240-826-MOMS (6667) Monday through Friday during business hours with any breastfeeding question you have, for more information about B.E.S.T. or our lactation consultation appointments, or to set up an appointment for a pump rental or purchase. We hope to be expanding our warm-line coverage to include some weekend hours soon!

Breast Pump Sales, Rentals and Breastfeeding Supplies

We offer a variety of breast pumps and breastfeeding supplies, and appreciate the opportunity to discuss them with you in detail. So that we may demonstrate the use and care of pumps we rent or sell (at no extra charge), we work by appointment only to ensure adequate time for each client. Please call 240-826-MOMS (6667) for more information or to schedule an appointment. If you purchased a pump elsewhere and would like guidance in use and care of your pump, you may set up an appointment and we’ll be happy to assist you (fee $15.00).

Lactation Consultation Appointments

If you have urgent breastfeeding needs, it will be helpful to have an appointment with a lactation consultant as soon as possible for focused one-on-one assessment and assistance.

If you desire a private consultation in your home, there are lactation consultants working independently in our community who will do so by appointment, and are highly experienced in maternal-child health, have advanced training in breastfeeding management, and are currently certified by the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC). For in-home lactation consultation appointments, please visit the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) website for practicing board certified lactation consultants in your area, and contact them for their fees and availability.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

According to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Family Health Administration the benefits of breastfeeding are:

Benefits for Baby

• Breast milk is the most complete nutrition for infants. A mother's milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein needed for a baby's growth and development. Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than formula.
• Breastfed infants grow exactly the way they should. They tend to be leaner than formula fed babies. This may result in less obesity later in life.
• Breast milk has agents (called antibodies) that help protect infants from bacteria and viruses. Babies who are breastfed for 6 months are less likely to have ear infections, diarrhea, or respiratory illnesses.
• Breastfed babies have lower rates of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the first year of life, and lower rates of diabetes, lymphoma, leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, obesity, high cholesterol and asthma later in life.
• Breastfed babies score slightly higher on IQ tests, especially babies who were born prematurely

Benefits for Moms

• Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose weight after pregnancy. It also decreases any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth.
• Breastfeeding delays the return of normal ovulation and menstrual cycles. (You should still talk with your doctor or nurse about birth control choices.)
• Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and possibly the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause.
• Breastfeeding makes your life easier. It saves time and money. There is no formula to buy or mix, and no bottles to warm in the middle of the night!
• A mother can give her baby immediate satisfaction by providing her breast milk when her baby is hungry.
• Breastfeeding gives a mother some quiet relaxed time for herself and her baby.
• Breastfeeding can help a mother bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and helps them feel more secure, warm and comforted.
• Breastfeeding mothers may have increased self-confidence and feelings of closeness with their babies. Benefits for Society

Societal Benefits of Breastfeeding

• Breastfeeding saves on health care costs. Breastfed babies need fewer doctor visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations.
• Breastfeeding contributes to a more productive workforce. Breastfeeding mothers miss less work because their infants are sick less often. Employer medical costs are lower and employee productivity is higher.
• Breastfeeding is better for our environment. There is less trash and plastic waste compared to formula use.