Breastfeeding Works!

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Health Care Reform) provides new rights for nursing mothers on the job. Check out our page on the new legal provisions.

Handouts & products

Purchase our new Breastfeeding Welcome Here products, and show the world that nursing moms are welcome where you are!

Download one of our handouts that help make breastfeeding easy. Most are available in multiple languages, and they're perfect for both mothers and medical providers.

Making Milk is Easy

First Hug

It's my birthday,
give me a hug!

Breasts don't come
with instructions!

Discharge
instructions

Breastfeeding
checklist

Skin to skin buttons now available!

The buttons, the size of the stomach of a one-day-old baby, are hugely popular in Massachusetts hospitals. We are now offering them to anyone. Help parents realize their newborns require very little colostrum (or formula) in the first days of life, and what mom has is just enough. Order now.

2013 Conference

Save Date: Sept 30 2013. Keynote speakers include Dr. Alison Stuebe, Celeste Milton from Joint Commission, and Erin Evans, PhD. See the agenda.

Mass. Baby-Friendly Collaborative

The next all-state meeting is May 23 (details) and our hospitals are now QI plans for the First Hour after birth. Come to our next meetings and check out our resource page.

The Affordable Care Act insurance requirements

The Affordable Care Act mandates that new private insurance plans cover "breastfeeding supplies" and "breastfeeding counseling" with no copayments. See MBC's guidelines on breast pumps and breastfeeding support. Breast Pump Guidelines 10/20/12 → The Landscape of Breastfeeding Support →

Breastfeeding support and help– what it all means

There are many different types of breastfeeding support, with an "alphabet soup" of different credentials. Our table shows all these different support available to help moms and babies, and what the different qualifications mean. Learn More →

In the News

Landmark Study Highlights Effect of Breastfeeding on Women’s Health

June 7, 2013 — A new study has found that low breastfeeding rates in the U.S. may cause as many as 5,000 cases of breast cancer, nearly 54,000 cases of hypertension, and almost 14,000 heart attacks each year.

Study on formula use in breastfeeding: not ready for prime-time

May 13, 2013 — Do women really breastfeed better if they give their babies tiny amounts of formula in the hospital? Would donor milk have the same effect? Read more at the ABM blog.(Paste into your browser: bfmed.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/early-limited-data-for-early-limited-formula-use/ )

Breastfeeding and the Obesity Controversy

March 15, 2013 — The media is full news that recent studies debunk any link between breastfeeding and lower risk of obesity. But is that a fair conclusion? Probably not.