The Macon County Health Department supports breastfeeding and is here to help support your feeding journey. Breastfeeding is an optimal source of feeding for infants, as the mother’s milk will change to meet the baby’s needs. It may help protect babies against some short- and long-term illnesses such as asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, and SIDS. Breastfeeding may help reduce the mother’s risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend exclusively breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continuing to breastfeed throughout the first year of life.
Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
Contact our breastfeeding peer counselor by text or phone any time of the day (but if you’re up for a 2 am feeding, it may be the next morning before you get a reply). She can help answer questions, give support and updates, or refer you to a specialist for medical questions. Everyone needs someone in their corner and our breastfeeding peer counselor is here to support you.
Contact the breastfeeding peer counselor at 660-346-7275
If you are in the WIC program, the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor will text you breastfeeding information and support throughout your pregnancy to help you have the tools to begin your breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding Support Group
We have a monthly breastfeeding support group. This is a time for breastfeeding moms, support people, and prenatal women to get together to talk about breastfeeding and gather support from others. If you have other children, you are welcome to bring them too! Check back for upcoming dates.
Breast Pumps
The Macon County Health Department has breast pumps for individuals to borrow while breastfeeding through our WIC and MCH programs. These hospital-grade pumps can allow you to express breastmilk when you’re away from the baby, or after the baby feeds if necessary, which helps maintain the milk supply.
Moms who are on WIC, and working or in school full-time, qualify for a single-user breast pump to allow them to pump while they’re away from the baby.
Our breastfeeding peer counselor demonstrates how to assemble and disassemble her breast pump for your reference.
