Megadodo
10-19-2007, 05:09 PM
Posted by ldsapmom (Member # 55) on December 09, 2003 08:09 PM December 09, 2003 08:09 PM :
There are many places a breastfeeding mom can turn for help. Support forums are a great place to start, but what if real-life help is needed? And what of cost? Sometimes moms know they should call an IBCLC, but they also know, realistically, they cannot afford the $30.00/hour fee. There are many other places to get help besides, perhaps, the hospital LC, that moms don't always know about.
La Leche League La Leche League offers mother-to-mother support either by way of a local group leader, or, if there is not a group in your area, through phone contact or online contact.
How can I find a local group? Check this link: http://www.lalecheleague.org/WebIndex.html
What if there is no group close to me?
quote:Look in your local telephone directory. Many La Leche League Groups have listings in the white or yellow pages. Some are also listed in the free "blue" pages for nonprofit organizations, as well. If there is no listing under "La Leche League," look under headings labeled "breastfeeding" or "lactation." In some places La Leche League will be listed under "community resources" or "women's health."
Call your pediatrician or health clinic. Health care providers often have a file of La Leche League Leader names. Your local library may also have a listing.
If there is no Group near you in our Group Web listings and you can't find the information locally, pick up your telephone and dial 1-800-LALECHE (US) or (847) 519-7730. The second number provides access to an automated system for finding LLL Leaders in the US by entering a local zip code. In Canada, telephone 1-800-665-4324, or (514) LA-LECHE for a French-speaking Leader.
What if I would like to ask a Leader a question and I cannot locate one near me? You can fill out a Breastfeeding Help Form and a Leader will email you back. http://www.lalecheleague.org/helpform.html
LLL Online Chats
La Leche League offers almost-daily support chats, led by accredited Leaders. This is a place where you can get real-time help form Leaders and other experienced breastfeeding moms. Click the link to see the schedule and find out where to go to attend a chat. http://www.lalecheleague.org/chat/chat.html
WIC WIC is a federal government program whose target population is comprised of low-income, nutritionally at risk:
-Pregnant women (through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth or after pregnancy ends).
-Breastfeeding women (up to infant’s 1st birthday)
-Nonbreastfeeding postpartum women (up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends)
-Infants (up to 1st birthday). WIC serves 45 percent of all infants born in the United States.
-Children up to their 5th birthday.
If a breastfeeding mother qualifies for WIC she may be eligible to receive things like free manual breastpump, free loaned hospital-grade breastpump, breast shells, breast shields, and free access to an IBCLC if one is employed by a local office. If not, there is somebody at the local office who has been trained to work with breastfeeding moms.
How can I find out where a WIC Office is and if I even qualify? http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/howtoapply/default.htm
I don't qualify -- where else can I find help? Check with your local health department. Many health departments have Public Health Nurses who are available for home visits or on-site visits, and some are especially trained to help breastfeeding mothers. Sometimes all a mother needs to do is contact her health department and refer herself to a PHN. Insurance can cover these visits, and sometimes there is no charge at all. Sorry, I do not have links to this, you will need to find them for your community.
If your insurance will cover a visit to an IBCLC, then consider yourself lucky -- but if you need help and don't have extra funds looming around for such a visit, check into these other suggestions.
Any other resources out there? Please add more!
[ October 11, 2004, 12:04 AM: Message edited by: ldsapmom ]
Posted by Gypsy (Member # 18) on October 28, 2004 06:26 PM October 28, 2004 06:26 PM :
http://www.iblce.org/US%20registry.htm
Posted by hugthem (Member # 1298) on October 30, 2004 11:59 AM October 30, 2004 11:59 AM :
Gypsy gave a link about lactation consultants above.
Here is another link to help you find a lactation consultant (anyone can call themselves an LC, but the initials IBCLC indicate passing a difficult test)
http://www.kellymom.com/lcdirectory/
As for the cost, yes it can be a problem, but then again a few hours with a good LC can prevent you from months of buying expensive formula! [Smile]
There are many places a breastfeeding mom can turn for help. Support forums are a great place to start, but what if real-life help is needed? And what of cost? Sometimes moms know they should call an IBCLC, but they also know, realistically, they cannot afford the $30.00/hour fee. There are many other places to get help besides, perhaps, the hospital LC, that moms don't always know about.
La Leche League La Leche League offers mother-to-mother support either by way of a local group leader, or, if there is not a group in your area, through phone contact or online contact.
How can I find a local group? Check this link: http://www.lalecheleague.org/WebIndex.html
What if there is no group close to me?
quote:Look in your local telephone directory. Many La Leche League Groups have listings in the white or yellow pages. Some are also listed in the free "blue" pages for nonprofit organizations, as well. If there is no listing under "La Leche League," look under headings labeled "breastfeeding" or "lactation." In some places La Leche League will be listed under "community resources" or "women's health."
Call your pediatrician or health clinic. Health care providers often have a file of La Leche League Leader names. Your local library may also have a listing.
If there is no Group near you in our Group Web listings and you can't find the information locally, pick up your telephone and dial 1-800-LALECHE (US) or (847) 519-7730. The second number provides access to an automated system for finding LLL Leaders in the US by entering a local zip code. In Canada, telephone 1-800-665-4324, or (514) LA-LECHE for a French-speaking Leader.
What if I would like to ask a Leader a question and I cannot locate one near me? You can fill out a Breastfeeding Help Form and a Leader will email you back. http://www.lalecheleague.org/helpform.html
LLL Online Chats
La Leche League offers almost-daily support chats, led by accredited Leaders. This is a place where you can get real-time help form Leaders and other experienced breastfeeding moms. Click the link to see the schedule and find out where to go to attend a chat. http://www.lalecheleague.org/chat/chat.html
WIC WIC is a federal government program whose target population is comprised of low-income, nutritionally at risk:
-Pregnant women (through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth or after pregnancy ends).
-Breastfeeding women (up to infant’s 1st birthday)
-Nonbreastfeeding postpartum women (up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends)
-Infants (up to 1st birthday). WIC serves 45 percent of all infants born in the United States.
-Children up to their 5th birthday.
If a breastfeeding mother qualifies for WIC she may be eligible to receive things like free manual breastpump, free loaned hospital-grade breastpump, breast shells, breast shields, and free access to an IBCLC if one is employed by a local office. If not, there is somebody at the local office who has been trained to work with breastfeeding moms.
How can I find out where a WIC Office is and if I even qualify? http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/howtoapply/default.htm
I don't qualify -- where else can I find help? Check with your local health department. Many health departments have Public Health Nurses who are available for home visits or on-site visits, and some are especially trained to help breastfeeding mothers. Sometimes all a mother needs to do is contact her health department and refer herself to a PHN. Insurance can cover these visits, and sometimes there is no charge at all. Sorry, I do not have links to this, you will need to find them for your community.
If your insurance will cover a visit to an IBCLC, then consider yourself lucky -- but if you need help and don't have extra funds looming around for such a visit, check into these other suggestions.
Any other resources out there? Please add more!
[ October 11, 2004, 12:04 AM: Message edited by: ldsapmom ]
Posted by Gypsy (Member # 18) on October 28, 2004 06:26 PM October 28, 2004 06:26 PM :
http://www.iblce.org/US%20registry.htm
Posted by hugthem (Member # 1298) on October 30, 2004 11:59 AM October 30, 2004 11:59 AM :
Gypsy gave a link about lactation consultants above.
Here is another link to help you find a lactation consultant (anyone can call themselves an LC, but the initials IBCLC indicate passing a difficult test)
http://www.kellymom.com/lcdirectory/
As for the cost, yes it can be a problem, but then again a few hours with a good LC can prevent you from months of buying expensive formula! [Smile]