Food and Feeding
Vermont Breastfeeding Resources
Breastfeeding, the key to the good health of mothers and babies, also significantly benefits families, employers, and society. For these reasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be breastfed for the first full year of life.
- Breastfeeding Information for New Mothers
- Vermont Department of Health District Offices
- La Leche League
- Home Health Agencies
- Breastfeeding Friendly Employer Project
- Other Resources
- Fit WIC Home
Vermont Department of Health District Offices
District Office staff can help pregnant women and new mothers find breastfeeding resources. We offer education, encouragement and support for breastfeeding mothers and can arrange home visits during and after pregnancy.
We provide breast pumps for women enrolled in WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children), and for those who are returning to school or work.
WIC provides health and nutrition screening, nutrition information and healthy foods for breastfeeding women, available through the baby’s first year.
Locate the Vermont Department of Health District Office in your area. For more information, call 1-800-649-4357 or 802-863-7333.
La Leche League
The La Leche League is an international organization dedicated to helping breastfeeding mothers. It has 3,000 local groups throughout the United States, including many in Vermont communities. La Leche League groups meet regularly to share breastfeeding information and mothering experience. There is no charge to attend La Leche League meetings, and Leaders are available to answer breastfeeding questions over the phone.
Contacts for many groups in and near Vermont are listed on the following websites. If you do not find a nearby group listed, contact your local District Office for more information or use the La Leche League Find a Leader tool.
La Leche League websites:
Addison County
Chittenden County
Grand Isle County
Orange County
Rutland County
Washington County
Windham County
Windsor County
Home Health Agencies
Vermont’s private, not-for-profit home health agencies and visiting nurse associations work in collaboration with the Vermont Health Department through Children's Integrated Services to provide comprehensive education and support to new families.
Home health agencies typically offer home visiting by maternal and child health nurses, both before and after birth, and assistance with early and ongoing breastfeeding needs.
For more about home health agencies, visit the VNA Health Systems of Vermont Web site.
- Locate a home health agency nearest you.
Other Resources
- Children's Integrated Services
- Breastfeedingpartners.org - Breastfeeding information from the New York WIC Program.
- Womenshealth.gov - Breastfeeding questions and answers from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Breastfeeeding information for parents and professionals
- Kellymom.com - Breastfeeding information for mothers, with many internet sources of information.