"The Santa Cruz County Breastfeeding Coalition (BFC) is committed to optimizing the health of mothers and babies by encouraging breastfeeding friendly attitudes, policies, and images in the community, recognizing the impact of birthing practices on breastfeeding, and promoting breastfeeding education and supportive practices among women and their families, health professionals and the community."

Goals and Objectives - Meetings
Local Breastfeeding Advice - Educational Materials

Web Resources: Breastfeeding Mothers/Families - Advocacy/Policy - Health Care Professionals - Workplace

Download the Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplace Policies Template in Microsoft Word
Employers can customize this template to fit their individual workplaces.

Overall Goals and Objectives

• Promote breastfeeding-friendly policies and practices in Santa Cruz County, including those promoted by mother friendly and baby friendly initiatives.

• Conduct outreach and education to health care professionals, schools, businesses and the community.

• Promote positive media coverage of breastfeeding issues and events.

• Advocate for and facilitate ongoing support for Latina mothers and families to increase breastfeeding rates and duration among the population.

• Support and participate in community events that promote breastfeeding and breastfeeding awareness.

• Facilitate resource sharing and collaboration among agencies and programs that provide health-related services to women and their families.

• Conduct data collection and evaluation to identify local trends in breastfeeding rates and related issues.

• Conduct grant writing and other fundraising activities to provide financial support for Coalition activities.

When the Coalition Meets

The BFC traditionally meets on the 2nd Thursday of every other month at Watsonville Community Hospital. Please contact Corinne Highland, MPH at 454-7558.

Local Breastfeeding Advice

• Birth Network of Santa Cruz County: 831-425-3088

• Dominican Hospital’s Lactation Program: 831 462-7862 (lactation support and supplies)

• Dominican’s Community Education (PEP) Program: 831 462-7709 (breastfeeding classes/support groups)

• Santa Cruz La Leche League: 24 hour hotline: 425-3088

• Nursing Mother’s Counsel Santa Cruz County Warmline: 831 688-3954

• The Sutter Lactation Center: 831-477-2229

• Watsonville Community Hospital

• WIC Santa Cruz County – North County - 831-426-3911, South County - Regalo de Amor Lactation Center 722-7121 x116 www.wicworks.ca.gov

Educational Materials in English and Spanish from WIC

• Benefits of Breastfeeding (PDF, English)..| Spanish

• Dad "Your Love & Support Make a Healthy, Happy Family" (PDF, English)...| Spanish

• What to Expect in the First Week of Breastfeeding (PDF, English)...| Spanish | Chinese

• How does formula Compare to Breastmilk (PDF, English)...| Spanish  Poster (PDF, English)...| Spanish

• How to Know if Your Baby is Getting Enough Breastmilk (PDF, English)...| Spanish

• Collecting and Storing Breastmilk (PDF, English)...| Spanish

• Getting Ready for Child Care (PDF, English)...| Spanish

• Now It's Easier to Breastfeed and Work (PDF, English)...| Spanish

• Sample Schedule for Expressing Breastmilk at Work (PDF, English)...| Spanish

• Working and Breastfeeding (PDF, English)...| Spanish

• Right to Breastfeed In Public

• The Adoptive Breastfeeding Resource Website

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

• Ask Dr. Sears

• BFAR - Breastfeeding after breast and nipple surgeries and other procedures.

• Birth Network of Santa Cruz County

• The Birth Survey

• Childbirth Connection

• Early Head Start National Resource Center

• Kellymom Breastfeeding and Parenting - Evidence based breastfeeding and parenting website.

• La Leche League’s New Beginnings magazine

• Low milk supply – Information and support for breastfeeding mothers.

• Mothers Milk Bank San Jose

• National Women's Health Information Center - Breastfeeding Helpline/Resources

• Dr. Jack Newman - Empowering mothers to achieve their own breastfeeding goals.

• Pan American Health Organization (New document on Benefits of Breastfeeding)

• Santa Cruz La Leche League

• Video of Newborn Breastcrawl

• WIC/Food and Nutrition Services of the USDA

• World Health Organization (WHO)

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

• American Academy of Pediatrics California Chapter 3 (AAPCA3)

• Breastfeeding and Dental Health

• Breastfeeding.com

• Breastfeeding Online

• California Breastfeeding Coalition

• CDC Breastfeeding Site

• FDA Breast Pump Website

• LactMed – Drugs and Lactation database

• Mothers Milk Bank San Jose

• American Academy of Pediatrics 2005 Policy Statement

• Baby Milk Action

• International Baby Food Action Network

• La Leche League International (LLLI)

• National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy

• United States Breastfeeding Committee

• World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA)

• Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM)

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

• Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, USA

• The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services  (includes 10 steps to baby friendly)

• La Leche League International (LLLI)

• LactMed – Drugs and Lactation database

• Lactational Pharmacology

• Medline--National Library of Medicine

• CDC Healthier Worksite Initiative

• Economic Benefits of Breastfeeding (USDA)

• Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition

• National Center for Education in Maternal-Child Health