RESOURCES
BREASTFEEDING RESOURCES IN VENTURA COUNTY
There are many breastfeeding resources available throughout Ventura County:
- Hospital Support
- Community Centers and Clinics including Public Health's Bright Beginnings Program and WIC
- Breast pump rentals and sales
- Breastfeeding Support groups
- Private Lactation Consultants (IBCLC's) for home visits
- Warm Lines in English, Spanish & Mixteco
- BCVC website with videos and resources for clients
We have free bilingual rack cards and "thank you for nursing your baby" cards available for you to distribute. Email or call to request your cards for your business or organization. See the Breastfeeding & More section of the website for more breastfeeding videos and links/handouts to many breastfeeding topics and concerns.
MEDICATIONS & BREASTFEEDING
There are many resources to check the compatibility of medications in a breastfeeding mother. There are books, websites and even apps available for your phone.
Medications & Mothers Milk Book & Online version by Dr. Thomas Hale
INFANT RISK CENTER: Questions about OTC or prescription medications while pregnant or nursing?
Call our experts.
Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm CT
(806) 352-2519
ACADEMY OF BREASTFEEDING MEDICINE (ABM) PROTOCOLS
PROTOCOLS for common and difficult topics that physicians and healthcare providers encounter in the breastfeeding mother. Examples:
- JAUNDICE
- HYPOGLYCEMIA
- NEONATAL ANKYLOGLOSSIA (Tongue tie)
- & more
See the bottom of this page for more resources on TONGUE TIE
Position Statements & Toolkits
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Position Statement on Breastfeeding
- CDC Breastfeeding and Special Circumstances (contraindications, maternal illness, medications, marijuana use, ect..)
- CDC Frequently Asked Questions
- WHO GROWTH CHARTS
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: ACOG Breastfeeding TOOLKIT Toolkit includes billing codes!
- 2017 Ventura County Hospital Breastfeeding Rates Fact Sheet
NEED LACTATION CONTINUING EDUCATION?
CHECK OUR EVENTS PAGE FOR OUR NEXT EDUCATION CONFERENCE & OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!
For online continuing education:
9 STEPS TO A BREASTFEEDING FRIENDLY CLINIC
Produced by the California Department of Public Health, in partnership with California Breastfeeding Coalition and CWA, this document outlines steps, guidelines, and desired outcomes defining community health centers that fully support breastfeeding mothers and infants.
RESOURCES FOR YOUR PATIENTS
Local Directory/Support Groups
There are many resources available to families throughout Ventura County. Print the directory or support group list for your patient or provide them with this website information.
Printable PDF's on Breastfeeding Topics
Paid Family Leave Information
Families can have many questions about qualifying for paid family leave and how to apply.
- CA PAID FAMILY LEAVE BROCHURE-ENGLISH
- CA PAID FAMILY LEAVE BROCHURE-SPANISH
- LEGAL AID AT WEBSITE
- PREGNANCY & MY JOB INFOGRAPH-ENGLISH
- PREGNANCY & MY JOB INFOGRAPH- SPANISH
Maternal Mental Health Coalition of Ventura County (MMHCVC)
Often, Maternal Mental Health and Successful Breastfeeding go hand in hand. The Maternal Mental Health Coalition of Ventura County provides both mother's and healthcare providers with the resources they need to address Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders during pregnancy and after birth.
Breast Pumps: Insurance coverage & rentals
WIC (Women, Infant, Children)
WIC provides nutrition and breastfeeding support services to women who are pregnant and their children.
- WEEKLY BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUPS
- TRAINED LACTATION PROFESSIONALS
- BREASTFEEDING PEER COUNSELING PROGRAM IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND MIXTECO
- FREE HOSPITAL GRADE BREAST PUMP LOANS to qualifying program participants
Have the client call (805)981-5251 to check eligibility and to enroll.
LACTATION EDUCATION & RESOURCES
TRUSTWORTHY WEBSITES
- AAP
- WHO
- CDC
- ACOG
- ABM
- INFANTRISK
- The Mother Baby Center
- Kellymom.com
- International Lactation Consultant Association: ILCA
- United States Lactation Consultant Association: USLCA
- United States Breastfeeding Committee: USBC
- International Board Lactation Consultant Examiner: IBLCE
- Ameda
- Hygeia
LACTATION EDUCATION ONLINE
MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
TONGUE TIE
BABY-FRIENDLY HOSPITAL INITIATIVE
Newly Revised 2018 WHO & UNICEF Guidelines:
The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding:
The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding were developed by a team of global experts and consist of evidence-based practices that have been shown to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration. Baby-Friendly hospitals and birthing facilities must adhere to the Ten Steps to receive, and retain, a Baby-Friendly designation.
CRITICAL MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES:
1a. Comply fully with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and relevant World Health Assembly resolutions.
1b. Have a written infant feeding policy that is routinely communicated to staff and parents.
1c. Establish ongoing monitoring and data-management systems.
2. Ensure that staff have sufficient knowledge, competence and skills to support breastfeeding.
KEY CLINICAL PRACTICES:
3. Discuss the importance and management of breastfeeding with pregnant women and their families.
4. Facilitate immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact and support mothers to initiate breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth.
5. Support mothers to initiate and maintain breastfeeding and manage common difficulties.
6. Do not provide breastfed newborns any food or fluids other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.
7. Enable mothers and their infants to remain together and to practise rooming-in 24 hours a day.
8. Support mothers to recognize and respond to their infants’ cues for feeding.
9. Counsel mothers on the use and risks of feeding bottles, teats and pacifiers.
10. Coordinate discharge so that parents and their infants have timely access to ongoing support and care.
There is substantial evidence that implementing the Ten Steps significantly improves breastfeeding rates. A systematic review of 58 studies on maternity and newborn care published in 2016 demonstrated clearly that adherence to the Ten Steps impacts early initiation of breastfeeding immediately after birth, exclusive breastfeeding and total duration of breastfeeding.
Become a CLC or IBCLC!
We need more IBCLC's and CLC's in Ventura County! Here are some resources to help you:
Join us in Supporting our New Families
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and fund Community Impact Projects directly supporting new families in Ventura County. Become a Community Impact Donor at $8/month.
