Florida Keys Breastfeeding Resources

Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is normal and healthy for infants and moms. Breast milk has disease-fighting cells called antibodies that help protect infants from germs, illness, and even SIDS. Evidence suggests that children who are breastfed have higher cognitive abilities and may be less at risk for obesity. Breastfeeding benefits moms by decreasing postpartum events and research indicates that women who breastfeed may have lower rates of certain breast and ovarian cancers.

Our Goal
Healthy Start Coalition is committed to assisting all women with breastfeeding. Women with infants less than six months of age, moms heading back to work or school, babies that are hospitalized, premature births, and families with multiples often face challenges and need extra support. Breast pumps, along with other products for mothers with feeding difficulties are available by request from Healthy Start; community assistance is available on a limited basis. Contact your local Healthy Start Coalition office for information regarding breast pump loan program (305-293-8424).

Resources and support are available for all breastfeeding mothers, WIC, clinics, care providers and physicians are also supported by your local Healthy Start Coalition in providing women with the information regarding the benefits of breastfeeding. Ask for support in making the best choice for feeding your baby and for yourself!

Training in breastfeeding for peer counselors or health care professionals is available. Contact our offices: (305) 293-8424

For information on breastfeeding products and pumps, please e-mail us, Download the pump rental or pump referral form and fax (305) 293-8542 or e-mail to our office.

Breastfeeding CRIB CARDS (Mommies can download and print)
English Spanish

Vitamin D Decisionmaking
Download Word/PDF

Video The ABCs of Breastfeeding: Getting Started with Breastfeeding

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Breastfeeding Specialists
These local individuals who have participated in formal trainings in breastfeeding counseling. There are other resources that may be available. Please call (305) 293-8424 for more information on counseling, support and breastpump resources for Florida Keys moms.

Counseling Services, Breastfeeding Support Groups, and Referrals for Breastpumps
Monroe County Healthy Start (305) 293-7515

WIC Program Offices
Key West (305) 293-1742
Marathon: (305) 289-2718 Claire Tallent
Tavernier: (305) 853-3241 Lori Rittel, RD and Janet Lopez, Spanish

La Leche League
Key West: Eva (305) 295-8597 or Tahra (305) 296-9701
Upper Keys: Carolyn (305) 359-9179

Click here to download/view the 2010 La Leche Brochure

Individuals

• Maggie Vogelsang, RN or Eva Hamilton, RN - Lower Keys Medical Center, labor and delivery
  (305) 294-5535
• Arianna Nesbitt, Lower Keys, doula and childbirth educator (305) 923-9125
• Billie McGuire, Registered Dietician, Fishermen’s Hospital (305) 743-5533
• Mirine Dye, Upper Keys, Breastfeeding Program Trainer, home visits, breast pumps
  (305)394-2456

International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC)
Mirine R. Dye, MPH, IBCLC (305) 394-2456

FREE Hot Lines
(800) LA-LECHE (525-3243) National La Leche League office
(800) 994-9662 National Women’s Health Information free telephone help

Online
www.lalecheleague.org
www.4woman.gov (Creole and Spanish)
www.breastfeeding.com

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From the Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog
Posted December 20, 2006
A great stocking stuffer for your pregnant friends or breastfeeding support person.

My supervisor at the hospital, Alice, gave each of the lactation consultants this great teaching tool as a holiday gift.

They're called 'belly balls,' and each little ball represents the size of a newborn's stomach. The smallest (the size of a small marble) is for day 1 of life, the next is for day 3, and the largest (the size of a ping pong ball) is for day 10.
What this illustrates so well is that the small amount of colostrum that a mother makes before her mature milk comes in are just perfect for a baby in the first few days of life. Many women worry that they aren't producing enough to satisfy their babies, and this concern often leads to early supplementation with formula. These balls show that a newborn's stomach is just the right size for the amount of milk a mother makes during those first few days.

The write-up on the back of the package states: Researchers have found that on Day 1, the newborn's small stomach does not stretch to hold more, as it will even a day or two later. This explains the experience of countless hospital nurses who have learned the hard way that when newborns are fed an ounce or two by bottle during the first day of life, most of it tends to come right back up. The walls of the newborn stomach stay firm, expelling extra milk rather than stretching to hold it.

These belly balls are made by Hollister, a pump company, but you can make your own with a marble, a wooden bead or shooter marble, a ping pong ball, and a little organza bag. To the right is my homemade version. My friend Joanna, who works as a lactation consultant at Stanford Hospital, carries one like this around with her from room to room. How about making one as a stocking stuffer this year?

Please note that these balls can be a choking hazard, so make and use your set of belly balls with this in mind.