Did you know that August is National Breastfeeding Month? At TruDiary, we’ve spoken to countless women who have found themselves struggling to overcome personal hurdles and concerns with breastfeeding. Overwhelming feelings of confusion, reluctance, high stress, self-doubt, and physical incompatibilities can flood one’s perceptions when it to the maternal topic–and sometimes, it’s not until a new mom has made it through delivery when breastfeeding “how-tos” even come up for discussion.
If you ask a mother when the ideal time for breastfeeding and lactation consultancy is, you get a plethora of answers. We have done this, and out of the hundreds of conversations we’ve had with moms, not a single one says: “Please tell me how to breastfeed my child(ren) in less than two minutes, and please make sure to speak with me in the mere moments right after I’ve given birth.”
Unfortunately, for many new moms, this is the only opportunity to consult with a lactation specialists, but it doesn’t have to be. Most moms we’ve spoken to suggest lactation and breastfeeding consultations should happen in the second trimester or early third semester. The reasoning is that during this period of pregnancy, moms can feel like there’s more mental capacity to take in and retain new information, and even more-so than during other periods of pregnancy because they are settling into their pregnancy journey. Would you agree?
For our Georgia moms and moms-to-be, we’re highlighting FIVE local organizations that help support mothers navigating lactation and breastfeeding. Consultations, resources, guides and more, here are some great organizations looking to make sure every mom gets access to the options and help needed for nourishing your new bundle(s) of pure joy!:
(1) Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE) (Atlanta, GA) - https://breastfeedingrose.org/
We appreciate ROSE and all that the organization is doing to support moms, inclusive of building communities. The group provides culturally relevant programming as well as allows mothers to connect with and learn from each other–a TruDiary philosophy we will always stand by.
“Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere (ROSE), Inc. seeks to enhance, encourage, support, promote, and protect breastfeeding throughout the USA, by working to reduce the breastfeeding disparities among African American women, and to strengthen the health of their babies and families through, mentoring, training, breastfeeding support groups, social support, outreach, education, legislation, health policies, and social marketing.”
(2) Pea Pod Nutrition (Atlanta, GA) - https://peapodnutrition.org/lactation
We like Pea Pod for it’s on-demand and consultation services around breastfeeding. Information and learnings on how to nourish your baby doesn’t have to wait until the baby gets here, and it shouldn’t end once you leave the delivery room. Pea Pod Nutrition offers opportunities to get ahead of anticipated problems any time you need it, and you can access this service virtually!
“The mission of Pea Pod Nutrition and Lactation Support is to empower families through evidence-based nutrition and lactation education, counseling and support to reduce the risk and prevalence of lifestyle-related chronic diseases in Georgia families.”
(3) North Georgia Breastfeeding Center (Cumming, GA) - https://www.northgeorgiabreastfeedingcenter.com/
North Georgia Breastfeeding Center brings professionally trained and certified specialists to help moms navigate their pregnancy and birthing journey. We like that the organization is accessible for a wide array of women covered by commercial and/or private health care insurers. Additionally, they offer wellness programs for mom and baby which is a great additional resource to have during such a pivotal time.
“North Georgia Breastfeeding Center is a group of professional Board Certified Lactation Specialists (IBCLC) dedicated to provide affordable, non-judgmental, evidence based lactation care for you and your baby in the Cumming, Alpharetta, Suwannee, Johns Creek, Roswell, Canton, Dawsonville, Gainesville, Buford, Sugar Hill, Lawrenceville and other surrounding areas.
In addition to our lactation services, North Georgia Breastfeeding Center and Wellness also has a wellness team that focuses on offering the benefits of homeopathic services along with prenatal and postnatal classes that are tailored to mom and baby.”
(4) Athens Community Breastfeeding Coalition (Athens, GA) - https://www.breastfeedingathens.org/
From Athens Community Breastfeeding Coalition, we adore their long-standing dedication to being a force in North Georgia that provides community guidance, support, and access to resources for breastfeeding moms. The organization has been in operation since 1991 and exists to help moms before, during and after the birth of their child(ren).
“The purpose of the Community Breastfeeding Coalition is to promote knowledge, acceptance and support of breastfeeding by the general public and health care providers in order to increase the frequency and duration of breastfeeding. Our goal is to connect breastfeeding families and advocates to local support resources.”
(5) Latch Breastfeeding Support (Statesboro, GA) - https://www.latchsav.com/
Latch Breastfeeding Support is a great option for lactation and breastfeeding consultation for families and moms located in Eastern Georgia. The organization not only provides extensive support and resources for breastfeeding, but also works with parents and guardians to develop feeding plans for baby down the road.
“Latch is a trusted name in the Savannah community. They have a history of working closely with families, physicians, and a variety of other health and wellness practitioners in seeking optimal outcomes by providing you with information regarding infant feeding behavior and the principles of milk supply.”