Breastfeeding Resources

Mass General is part of the international Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative to support new parents in meeting their breastfeeding goals. We provide support, education and resources to help parents meet their feeding goals.

    Breastfeeding Classes

    Breastfeeding classes cover the function and structure of the breast, latching and positioning, nutrition, feeding patterns, growth spurts and recommendations on pumping and storage of breast milk.

    Lactation Clinic

    The Lactation Clinic offers support, education, and resources to help new parents meet their breastfeeding goals.

    Virtual Breastfeeding Support Group

    Happening virtually on Wednesdays at 2 pm, this group provides support and guidance for breastfeeding, parenting and healing after childbirth.

    New Parent Support Groups

    Weekly groups for pregnant patients, new mothers and their families provide a friendly and supportive environment to discuss questions about breastfeeding, newborn care and adjusting to parenthood.

    Additional Resources

    Breastfeeding is natural, but it doesn’t always come naturally. The resources on this list can provide helpful hints for feeding your baby. This list does not indicate an endorsement by Mass General of any products or services offered by the companies included.

    Hand Expression Guide (PDF)

    Hand Expression Guide (PDF)

    Hand-expressing milk in the early hours and days following delivery can help make breastfeeding more comfortable and help you make more milk.

    Breastfeeding Tips

    Breastfeeding Tips

    Read tips about initiating breastfeeding, to use a pacifier or not, and more.

    Formula Preparation Guidelines

    Formula Preparation Guidelines

    Information for parents about how to formula feed your new baby.

    ZipMilk.org

    ZipMilk.org

    Access localized information about lactation consultants, support groups and mother-to-mother breastfeeding educators.

    Droplet

    Droplet

    These external resources from Droplet aim to help new parents learn effective breastfeeding techniques in order to prevent common challenges.

    KellyMom

    KellyMom

    Articles about parenting and breastfeeding, including common breastfeeding challenges.

    Breastfeeding Video Series

    Breastfeeding Video Series

    Global Health Media Project’s breastfeeding video series were created to help parents see and learn about breastfeeding.

    Video icon

    Breastfeeding Video from MA Dept of Health

    The Massachusetts Department of Health presents this video as part of their Breastfeeding Initiative

    Recursos en Español

    Mass General Is a Baby-Friendly Hospital

    Massachusetts General Hospital became certified as a Baby-Friendly Hospital on November 25, 2015. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is a program of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), dedicated to ensuring that all birthing hospitals and centers support new parents as they begin to breastfeed.

    At Mass General, we have implemented several programs as part of the initiative, including rooming-in, using pacifiers only for medical reasons and practicing skin-to-skin parent-baby bonding. These practices have shown to increase rates of breastfeeding.

    Learn about Mass General’s efforts to help parents meet their breastfeeding goals.

    Learn more

    Support for Our Patients

    At the Mass General OB/GYN Department, each patient is an important member of her own care team. To support you, we offer education resources such as childbirth classes, pregnancy-related information and access to women's health resources.