STEP6

SEEK SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE

Finally, remember that you’re not alone on this journey. There are many resources available to help you make informed decisions about your baby’s health and well-being:

CONSULT

research-backed recommendations for breastfeeding, donor milk, and infant nutrition from reputable organizations listed on the following pages.

REACH OUT

to healthcare professionals, including lactation consultants, for personalized advice tailored to your individual circumstances.

CONSIDER JOINING

a support group for encouragement from people who understand what you’re going through.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): evidence-based guidelines and resources on breastfeeding, infant nutrition, and child health
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): information on breastfeeding, prenatal care, and maternal health
• Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM): global guidelines and research on breastfeeding, lactation, and human milk
• World Health Organization (WHO): global recommendations and guidelines on infant feeding, including breastfeeding and donor milk
• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF): advocates for children’s rights and provides resources on breastfeeding, infant nutrition, and maternal health worldwide
• California Department of Public Health (CDPH): provides information on research, laws, and initiatives related to public health, including breastfeeding
• U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC): primarily works with groups on breastfeeding-supportive policies and offers some parent resources
• International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA): certifies and provides information about lactation consultants
• La Leche League (LLL) USA and International: peer-to-peer support, education, and encouragement to breastfeeding mothers
• Legal Protections for Nursing Employees Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Legal Rights for Pregnant and Parenting Students Under Title IX

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN CALIFORNIA

• California Breastfeeding Coalition (CBC): promotes and supports lactation and human milk feeding
• BreastfeedLA: supports breastfeeding through advocacy and education
• Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC): provides nutrition information and support, including breastfeeding, to low-income women, infants, and children

GLOSSARY

• Donor milk: breast milk collected from a healthy, lactating person and donated to another baby who needs it; also known as donor human milk, donor breast milk.
• Pasteurization: a process of food safety and preservation in which the food item is heated gently to eliminate pathogens.
• Pasteurized donor human milk (PDHM): may be used interchangeably with donor milk and similar terms but specifically refers to donor milk after it has been pasteurized
• Premature birth: the delivery of a baby before 37 weeks of pregnancy; also known as preterm birth.
• Very low birth weight (VLBW): a birth weight of less than 1,500 grams (3 pounds, 4 ounces). The average birth weight of a full-term baby is around 3,500 grams (7 pounds, 12 ounces).