Breastfeeding is a natural and healthy way to nourish your baby. But sometimes, it can feel anything but instinctive.
You’re not alone if you feel challenged by breastfeeding. Many new parents need help and encouragement as they learn how to breastfeed and incorporate it into their daily lives. Feeding your baby this way often comes with some doubts and a lot of questions.
We understand breastfeeding your new baby can be full of ups and downs. But it also has some amazing benefits. That’s why our expert healthcare providers are here to help you and your baby throughout this personal journey — even before delivery. We can teach you how to successfully feed your baby and guide you along the way with tips and support. And we’re here for you as long as you and your baby need us.
Establishing and sticking to a breastfeeding routine can be quite rewarding — but it’s not always easy. Our lactation support team is here for you. We offer private consultations before and after birth to support you and your family throughout this feeding journey.
Cleveland Clinic has received several awards relating to lactation support. Baby-Friendly USA named us a Baby-Friendly Hospital, and we’ve received the International Board of Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) Care Award. We also score high with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care.
Whether you’re a first-time parent or you’ve been down this road before, we can help you succeed at building a satisfying breastfeeding routine. And we’ll help you with any challenges so you and your baby can thrive.
You’ll work with board-certified pediatricians and other skilled healthcare providers with advanced training and experience in breastfeeding management and lactation disorders. Our lactation consultants are all certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE), so they’re recognized experts in breastfeeding techniques and solutions. Meet our team.
We know getting to your provider’s office with a new baby can be tough, so you might want to think about having a virtual visit. You’ll get the same great care but from the comfort and convenience of home.
Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We’re recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.
Cleveland Clinic supports you and your family through all stages of breastfeeding. We can coach you before you give birth to get you ready for what lies ahead. And we’re here for you when you begin lactation and after you go home and adjust to this new way of life.
Our pediatricians, nurses, lactation consultants, obstetrics providers and breastfeeding medicine physicians will help you start preparing for breastfeeding before delivery. We’ll review your health history and medications to spot potential challenges early in the process. We’ll talk about breastfeeding best practices, recommend helpful equipment and share useful tips to improve your success — like setting up a dedicated space for breastfeeding at home. We offer prenatal one-on-one and group classes and visits for parents who are at high risk for breastfeeding challenges or just want to feel more prepared before delivery.
The first few days after your baby is born are very important to establishing a breastfeeding routine. Our team will visit you in the hospital shortly after birth to set you up for success.
We’ll encourage skin-to-skin contact as soon as possible to promote bonding and signal your body to start producing milk. The first milk produced after birth (colostrum) is highly concentrated with nutrients and antibodies to help build your baby’s immunity. We’ll help you give this milk to them. We’ll show you how to hold your baby during feedings and how to encourage your baby to latch onto your breast.
As we watch you feed your baby, we’ll pay close attention to how your baby latches on, sucks, swallows and breathes during feedings. We’ll offer tips on positioning so that you’re more comfortable. And we’ll help you look for signs that your baby is getting enough milk. Before you go home, we’ll answer all of your questions and help you work through any problems you might be having.
Many parents need support breastfeeding at home for the first few weeks. We can help you set up a home feeding routine, so you can get comfortable with breastfeeding and/or pumping right away. We can also help you with other important things like:
Our healthcare providers see patients at locations in Northeast Ohio.
How long you breastfeed your baby is up to you, but healthcare providers recommend using breast milk exclusively for the first six months of your child’s life, either by breastfeeding or pumping your milk and using a bottle. If you can, continue using breast milk throughout your baby’s first two years, even as you add new foods to their diet. We want to make sure feeding your baby is as stress-free and enjoyable for you and your family as possible.
Our team is here for you and can help you create a breastfeeding routine and timeline that’s best for you and your baby. This includes helping you with:
We also can recommend other educational resources, classes and support groups — both in person and online. We’re here to set you up for success.
If you have challenges breastfeeding, we’ll help you figure out what’s going on and solve those issues so your baby can actively eat, gain weight and grow.
Sometimes you might have treatable physical issues that keep you from breastfeeding, like:
Other times, your baby might have problems latching on to your nipple or simply refuses to feed. Or they might have sucking problems like tongue-tie (ankyloglossia). Medical conditions like premature birth can also affect a baby’s ability to successfully latch on, feed and thrive. We can help with all of these challenges.
We also recognize that every family has its own needs and circumstances when it comes to breastfeeding. Our experts have lots of experience working with families with special situations.
More than one baby? We can advise you on feeding twins and triplets — or even more. We can also help adoptive and surrogate families with techniques such as induced lactation. Or maybe you’re looking to learn more about breastfeeding after breast or nipple surgery. We can even assist you with relactation (starting to breastfeed again after stopping) if you decide you want to try again.
Your care team is here to help you succeed at breastfeeding in ways that work best for you and your family.
From the excellent nutrition it provides to the bonding that comes with skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding is a wonderful, natural way to feed and connect with your new baby. But it’s not always easy to do. And that’s OK. Cleveland Clinic has the support you need to establish a breastfeeding routine that works for you and your family. Our specialists can offer tips and best practices to help make your breastfeeding journey a success.
Getting an appointment with Cleveland Clinic’s breastfeeding experts is easy. We’re here to help you get the care you need.
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