Prepare for Disasters
South Carolina is prone to Disasters/Emergencies. Feeding your child your milk becomes even more important as the risk of infection can increase due to crowded conditions and lack of sanitation. Click the image to find out how to prepare and about the resources available.
Breastfeeding is made possible by wide community support. South Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition is committed to helping you identify breastfeeding friendly people and places in South Carolina, South Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition Friendly Community Partners pledge to support their employees and customers.
On-going peer and professional support is crucial to breastfeeding success. To find support near you, reach out to La Leche League, Mocha Mammas Milk, local breastfeeding clinics, pediatric practices, and your local WIC Clinic (the Women, Infants, & Children Program) near you.
Support Groups
Greenville
Nourish: Integrative Lactation & Wellness
3900 SC 14 Suite 1B
Greenville, SC 29615
first and third Tuesday of every month from 10am - 12pm
events: https://www.facebook.com/NourishGreenville/events
La Leche League of the Lowcountry, SC
FREE Support In Person and Virtual
Follow our FB or IG for meeting notices.
https://www.facebook.com/LaLecheLeagueoftheLowcountry
https://www.instagram.com/lllofthelowcountry/
Aemelia aemelia.llllowcountry@gmail.com
Naomi & Tamsen available at meetings
La Leche League of Charleston, SC
La Leche League of Charleston, South Carolina (lllcharlestonsc.blogspot.com)
Office of Women’s Health (800) 994-9662 (9am – 6pm M-F)
Local hospitals with labor and delivery facilities usually have lactation consultants available during the daytime hours
The Women, Infant, Children’s program, also has lactation consultants on staff
Pediatric Offices often have lactation consultants available or they can refer to an independent consultant
Breastfeeding helps infants and toddlers remain healthy during disasters. Mothers who are breastfeeding may need help and support to continue. Find resources and information at United States Breastfeeding Committee: http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/emergencies
Going back to work is a major challenge for breastfeeding families. Find resources at the links below. Consider contacting a Lactation Consultant to help you develop a personalized plan.
Business Case for breastfeeding https://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-home-work-and-public/breastfeeding-and-going-back-work/business-case
Womens health.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-home-work-and-public/breastfeeding-and-going-back-work
See our Web page about the Laws that protect breastfeeding employees
For years, postpartum mental health challenges were not addressed. Now, South Carolina has a network of support specializing in helping mothers in this vulnerable time of life. Obstetricians and Lactation Consultants are often able to help or refer to local resources, in addition, postpartum support groups are becoming more common and telehealth is accessible statewide.
In the lactation world, Kathleen Kendall Tackett, PhD, IBCLC, has done the most work on breastfeeding and postpartum connection. Hand-outs can be found at http://praeclaruspress.com/white-papers/
The Women, Infant and Children’s program administered by South Carolina DHEC offers supplemental nutrition, information and support for Breastfeeding Women and their infants up to a year. Find help here
Many private insurance companies and Medicaid organizations provide breast pumps as part of their plan (see breastfeeding laws). South Carolina Medicaid does not.
During your hospital stay, you may be able to use a hospital-grade breast pump and take a hand-pump home with you.
If you qualify for, and participate in the Women, Infants, and Children Program and choose the breastfeeding food package, you may be eligible to receive a pump if you are having difficulties, facing a separation from baby, or are going back to work or school.
Local hospitals and, sometimes, lactation clinics or specialty “mother and baby” stores often rent or sell pumps.
