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Mother and baby laughing together

Breastfeeding Support

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding can satisfy all your infant’s nutritional needs for the first six months of life. But it’s about more than just feeding — it also creates quality bonding time with your child that comforts them and nurtures feelings of safety, security and love.

Breastfeeding Guidelines

The journey to successful latching and feeding is different for each new mom. But there are a few general guidelines to follow:

  • Put your baby skin-to-skin and to the breast as soon as possible after birth 
  • Use washable or disposable nursing pads; avoid plastic-lined pads 
  • Watch your infant, not the clock; your baby should nurse eight to 12 times a day 
  • You do not need to wash your breast before or after breastfeeding

When to Seek Help

Know that many women experience ups and downs when it comes to breastfeeding. If you’re struggling, you’re not alone — but we can help. A lactation consultant may be useful if you’re faced with any of the following:

  • Abrasions or trauma to nipples
  • Baby has not regained birth weight by two weeks
  • Baby is unable to correctly latch due to fullness of breasts/areolar tissue
  • Less than six wet diapers in a 24-hour period
  • Little or no swallowing in 48 to 72 hours
  • Nipple soreness continued past seven days
  • No change in the fullness of breasts after feeding has ended
  • Unable to wake baby for feedings

Four Easy Ways to Get Help

Breastfeeding Line

The Breastfeeding Center at AdventHealth for Women is available to new moms and is staffed by our certified lactation consultants. To discuss breastfeeding issues, please call 407-303-7650 to speak with one of our consultants. The Breastfeeding Center is open 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday through Friday.

The Baby Bunch

The Baby Bunch is a weekly gathering designed for moms of young babies from newborn to 12 months old. The group is a welcoming community for all mothers, with helpful discussions on feeding options, infant development and maternal health. This is a great way to meet moms just like yourself. 

Registration

The Baby Bunch meets weekly at four convenient Central Florida locations. Registration is recommended but not required to reserve your spot. The Baby Bunch fees are $8 per meeting, or three meetings for $20. Cost of this class is for mom and baby. Lunch is provided. To register online, please select a location:

Register at Altamonte Springs

Register at Celebration

Register at Orlando

Register at Winter Park

Breastfeeding Support Group Session

Our breastfeeding support group sessions are led by a board-certified lactation consultant who can answer your questions, provide consultation, arrange for breast-pump rentals and establish a breastfeeding relationship that is comfortable and healthy for both mother and baby. 

Register at Celebration

Breastfeeding Consultation

One-on-one breastfeeding consultations are designed for moms who need extended, private assistance to ensure successful breastfeeding. As always, our certified lactation consultants are committed to helping you work through the challenges that come with feeding time. Breastfeeding consultation is by appointment only, and in some cases can be billed to insurance. To schedule an appointment, please call 407-303-7650.

Mothers' Milk Depot

Central Florida’s first milk depot serves as a safe, controlled collection point where women can donate their mother’s breast milk for premature and at-risk infants in need. We make it easy for moms to help other moms provide vitally important nutrients to their babies who are struggling to survive.

  • AdventHealth for Women is associated with the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida, a member of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA).
  • A HMBANA milk bank not only screens and tests its donors, but will also pasteurize and then test (culture) the milk prior to bottling for shipment. Only donor milk from a HMBANA milk bank can be safely given to pre-term, hospitalized infants.
  • Milk banks depend on “drop off” milk depots in order to meet the growing demand for donor human milk.
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pasteurized donor human milk be given to premature infants when a mother’s own milk cannot be used.
  • Pasteurized donor human milk provides life-saving benefits to premature and at-risk infants.
  • There is a critical shortage of donor human milk in the United States.

1. Call the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida at 407-248-5050 to complete a 10-minute screening.

2. Complete and return the milk donor screening and consent forms.

3. Complete a free blood test.

4. Bring your frozen donor milk to the Milk Depot at AdventHealth Orlando for shipment to the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida.

Hours of Operation

9 am to 4 pm — Monday through Friday

For more information on becoming a mother’s milk donor, call 407-303-7650.