Lactation Support Services
Our Experienced Providers Give Community-based Lactation Support, Free of Cost.
Lactation Support Peer Counselors prepare families for their milk-making and baby-feeding journey by providing education during pregnancy. Once the baby is born, counselors and consultants provide lactation support within the first 24 to 48 hours of life, conducting frequent check-ins during the first eight weeks of the postpartum period.
What Lactation Support Services Provides
This program is open to families from our focus communities in any stage of their lactation and/or baby-feeding journey and can receive one on one support from their counselor through the first postpartum year. We prioritize Black, Latine/Spanish-speaking, and Indigenous communities.
Our lactation providers are currently providing culturally matched virtual support with in-person services as needed and enrolled families have access to advanced lactation support through IBCLC consultation services for more acute needs.
How to Get Care
Families can request services in our Lactation Support Program by filling out our intake form. Community members can register for our monthly virtual classes or drop into our Virtual Lactation Lounges as needed. Registration information for virtual classes is available on our Class Schedule & Event Calendar.
Families unable to enroll in our program can contact lactation support birth workers listed in our Birth Worker Directory.
Program Offerings
- Lactation Support Timeline
Prenatal Lactation Support Preparation
- Program enrollment with Lactation Support Peer Counselor
- Three prenatal lactation preparation and education sessions
- Prenatal visits can begin during the third trimester
- Introduction to Lactation Lounges
The First Eight Weeks
- Frequent home, hospital, and/or virtual visits to provide lactation support and education during the transition from colostrum to breastmilk during the first week after birth
- Newborn weight checks
- Postpartum assessments
The First Year
- Monthly check-ins for ongoing support and education
- Baby weight checks as needed
- Postpartum assessments
- Lactation Lounges
- Virtual Lactation Lounges
Parents and caregivers can drop in during any stage of their lactating journey to ask questions and discuss challenges surrounding feeding. From pregnancy to weaning and everything in between, our Lactation Support Peer Counselors are here for you. Virtual Lactation Lounges are offered through Zoom, free of cost, and are supported by Lactation Support Peer Counselors, Certified Lactation Counselors, and Lactation Consultants. All families who need support are welcome.
Our Virtual Lactation Lounges are currently offered on Mondays, Tuesdays (Spanish), and Wednesdays. Please see our Class Schedule and Event Calendar for class details and the Zoom link to join.
- In-person Lactation Lounge
Receive in-person lactation support on the second Thursday of every month at our El Centro de la Raza offices. Drop-in as needed from 11 am to 1 pm in Room 305.
Parents and caregivers can drop in during any stage of their lactating journey to ask questions and discuss challenges surrounding feeding. From pregnancy to weaning and everything in between, our Lactation Support Peer Counselors are here for you. All families who need support are welcome.
- Monthly Prenatal Lactation Classes
Taught by Open Arms Lactation Program members, this class is designed for our focus communities to help you prepare for welcoming your baby and starting your lactation journey. This introductory class is held monthly on the second Thursday at 10 am PT. Open to enrolled families and community members from our focus community living in King County.
The class is held on Zoom and links will be sent out after the registration form is completed. Please register via this form.
- Monthly Lactation Education Classes
Every month, our Lactation Program offers a topical class on lactation and baby-feeding related themes. Topics have included community milk-sharing, over-milk supply, introduction to solid foods, and more! Open to community members and non-enrolled families.
The class is held via Zoom, links will be sent out after the registration form is completed. Please register for each class at our Class Schedule and Event Calendar.