Compassionate and Comprehensive Lactation Support
Rachel, Lauryn, and Jes are International Board Certified Lactation Consultants serving Northwest Indiana and surrounding areas.
When you choose an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with Hoosier Breast Friend, you are connected with a provider who is passionate about supporting you and your baby to meet your goals.
Each family is unique and deserves care that is tailored to their needs. Together, we will assess feeding at the breast and/or with the bottle, milk supply, weight gain and milk transfer, latching, and everything between. We will look for underlying causes of problems and develop a plan to address what you are experiencing. You will receive a care plan that is specific to you and your baby.
For the best outcome, we recommend an initial visit and at least one follow up appointment to allow us to re-assess. This allows us to make any necessary adjustments to the care plan and ensure that your goals are within reach. We believe that lactation support should be accessible to anyone who needs or wants it.
Breastfeeding Data
Data shows that the vast majority of families in Indiana initiate breastfeeding. In 2019, 86% of babies began breastfeeding - an increase from 78% in 2017.
However, at 6 months of age, the percentage of infants receiving any amount of human milk is still dropping drastically (53% in 2019, compared to 47% in 2017). Rates of exclusive breastfeeding are even lower. Only about 47% of babies born in 2019 were exclusively breastfed for their first 3 months, and only 21.5% at 6 months.
The data shows us that most families want or intend to breastfeed and that for most families, early weaning occurred. What can we do to improve these rates? Improve lactation care! If you’re struggling to meet your feeding goals or feel that your baby isn’t thriving with your milk, contact an IBCLC today.
Read more about the data collected here: CDC Breastfeeding Data