Breastfeeding

Improving the physical and emotional well-being of childbearing families and their infants is a primary goal of the State Perinatal Program (SPP). Breastfeeding with its many known health benefits for infants, children, and mothers, is a key strategy to accomplish this goal. Breastfeeding is a natural and beneficial source of nutrition and provides the healthiest start for an infant. In addition to the nutritional benefits, breastfeeding promotes a unique and emotional connection between mother and baby and helps reduce illness and the risk of SIDS.

Breastfeeding-Related Rights

Did you know that a new national law called the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act went into effect in June 2023? This new law provides groundbreaking protections for pregnant, postpartum, and pumping workers, and gives you the right to get accommodations at work that will help you keep your job and protect your health.

The law gives you the right to things like extra breaks, flexible scheduling to attend doctors' appointments, time off to recover from childbirth or miscarriage, light duty, remote work, and much more.

This new law only helps workers if they know about it. Check out the Know Your Rights site from our friends at A Better Balance to learn more.

Breastfeeding Support Groups

Huntsville Hospital Breastfeeding Support Group #1
North Huntsville Public Library
3011 Sparkman Drive NW
Huntsville, AL 35810
Location: Meeting Room 133
Meeting Day & Time: Every Tuesday from 10AM - 12PM

Huntsville Hospital Breastfeeding Support Group #2
Women's Pavilion 
910 Adams Street
Huntsville, AL 35801
Location: Meeting Room 120B
Meeting Day & Time: The 1st Saturday of the month from 10AM - 12PM

Athens-Limestone Hospital Moms and Babies Breasfeeding Support Group
Medical Office Building
101 Fitness Way
Athens, AL 35611
Location: Meeting Room 2200 (across the street from the ER)
Meeting Day & Time: Every Friday at 10AM

Athens-Limestone Hospital Prenatal Breastfeeding Support Group
Athens-Limestone Hospital
Meeting Day & Time: The 3rd Monday of the month from 5PM - 7PM
Please call (256)-233-9490 to register and for exact meeting location

Babies & Blooms 
The Well
824 Avenue A
Opelika, AL 36801
Meeting Day & Time: Every Tuesday from 5:15PM - 6:30PM

East Alabama Medical Center Breastfeeding Support Group
EAMC
2000 Pepperell Parkway
Opelika, AL 36801
Location: 3rd Floor EAMC Maternal Child Education Room
Meeting Day & Time: Every Thursday from 12PM - 2PM

North Baldwin Infirmary Baby Bistro
Java J's Cafe
1504 US-31
Bay Minette, AL 36507
Meeting Day & Time: The 3rd Thursday of the month from 11AM - 1PM
Registration

Chocolate Milk Mommies - Bessemer
University of Alabama at Birmingham - Medical West Hospital
5000 Medical West Way
McCalla, AL 35111
Contact Jennifer Miller at (205)-538-1756 for meeting location, date, and time.

Brookwood Baptist Breastfeeding Support Group - Bessemer
Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church
4809 Bell Hill Road
Bessemer, AL 35022
Location: Church Parlor
Meeting Day & Time: Every Monday from 10AM - 12PM

Brookwood Baptist Breastfeeding Support Group - Princeton
6th Avenue Baptist Church
101 Martin Luther King Drive
Birmingham, AL 35211
Location: 2nd Floor - John Thomas Porter Building
Meeting Day & Time: Every Monday from 1PM - 3PM

Brookwood Baptist Breastfeeding Support Group - Greystone
Church of Brook Hills at Greystone
3145 Brook Highland Parkway
Birmingham, AL 35242
Location: Room 306
Meeting Day & Time: Every Tuesday from 1PM - 3PM

Chocolate Milk Mommies - Birmingham
East Lake United Methodist Church
7753 1st Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35206
Meeting Day & Time: The 2nd Saturday of each month from 11AM - 12:30PM

St. Vincent's Hospital Baby Cafe
810 St. Vincent's Drive
Birmingham, AL 35205
Location: 4th Floor of the Women's and Children's Center
Meeting Day & Time: Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1PM - 3PM
Call (205)-212-6667 for more information

St. Vincent's 119 Baby Cafe
7191 Cahaba Valley Road
Birmingham, AL 35242
Location: Posted weekly at the 119 Building
Meeting Day & Time: Every Wednesday from 10AM - 12PM
Call (205)-408-6600 for more information

St. Vincent's Baby Cafe at St. Vincent's East
50 Medical Park Drive East
Birmingham, AL 35235
Location: 2nd Floor, Classroom #4
Meeting Day & Time: Every Friday from 10AM - 12PM
Contact (205)-212-6667 for more information

Southeast Health Women's Center
1108 Ross Clark Circle
Dothan, AL 36301
Location: 2nd Floor of the Women's Center
Meeting Day & Time: The 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 10AM - 12PM
Contact (334)-673-4141 for more information

Nourish Breastfeeding Support Group
Church at the Crossing
208 TV Road
Dothan, AL 36301
Meeting Day & Time: The 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from 10AM - 12PM
Contact (334)-803-1227 or (334)-200-6572 for more information

Resources

Support Resources

• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program Breastfeeding
• Alabama Breastfeeding Committee
• Alabama Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Certification
• Mother's Milk Bank of Alabama
• Milk Depot locations map

Educational Resources

• How Doctors Can Help
• How Nurses Can Help
• Before Giving a Bottle
• Information for Breastfeeding Families
• Rooming In
• Skin to Skin Care
• Stomach Capacity
• The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
• Ten Great Reasons to Breastfeed
• Ten Valuable Tips for Successful Breastfeeding
  
• Breast Massage Quick Guide
• The Golden Hour Hand Express

Mother's Milk Depot Locations

Mother's Milk Depot of Monroe County
2016 S. Alabama Avenue
Monroeville, AL 36460
By appointment only
Website

Infirmary Health
Women's Health Alliance of Mobile
1720 Springhill Ave., Suite 400
Mobile, AL 36604
Mon - Fri
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Southeast Alabama Medical Center
1108 Ross Clark Circle
Dothan, AL 36301
Mon - Fri
8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Cornerstone Family Chiropractic
323 Airport Road, Suite E
Auburn, AL 36830
Mon, Wed, Thurs
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Tue 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Fri 7:00 am - 12:00 pm
Website

Mothers' Milk Bank of Alabama
107 Walter Davis Drive
Birmingham, AL 35209
Wed
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Website

RMC Lactation Services
400 E 10th Street
Anniston, AL 36207
Wed
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Website

Connections Breastfeeding: The Baby's Room
801 E. Tennessee Street
Florence, AL 35630
Tues - Fri
10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Sat 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Connections Breastfeeding: A Nurturing Moment
7540 Memorial Pkwy SW, Suite B
Huntsville, AL 35802
Mon - Thur
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Fri - Sat
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Website

Connections Breastfeeding: Madison
(Journey Therapeutic Massage)
1874 Slaughter Road, Suite M
Madison, AL 35758
By Appointment Only

Infant Feeding During Disasters

Did you know that breastfeeding helps babies stay healthy during disasters and every day? During a disaster or an emergency, there may be no clean drinking water. Breastfeeding helps protect babies from unclean water, boosts immunity, and provides comfort. Learn more from the United State Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children & Families.

Additional Breastfeeding Resources

• International Lactation Consultant Association
• United States Breastfeeding Committee
• Centers for Disease Control
• ROSE (Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere)
• World Health Organization
• World Health Organization Breastfeeding poster
• Dr. MILK support program for physician mothers
• Alabama Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition & Care (mPINC) Report
• Baby Friendly USA
• The Joint Commission: Perinatal Care
• CDC:2018 Breastfeeding Report Card
• Breastfeeding Support and Resources Toolkit from the American Academy of Family Physicians
• Coffective (Helping families get off to a great start)
• National Breastfeeding Helpline 1-800-944-9662
  If breastfeeding hurts, get information and support from trained English- and Spanish-speaking breastfeeding counselors.

Breastfeeding Support Groups

• Alabama Breastfeeding Committee
• Alabama Breastfeeding Committee Statewide Support Group Directory
• Alabama Le Leche League Meetings