Breastfeeding Information & Breast Pumps

Woman in hospital bed breastfeeding newborn

Breast Milk is the Ideal Food for Babies

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for approximately 6 months after birth. Furthermore, the AAP supports continued breastfeeding, along with appropriate complementary foods introduced at about 6 months, as long as mutually desired by mother and child for 2 years or beyond.

Why Should I Breastfeed?

Good for Baby

  • Breast milk helps your baby grow strong and healthy.
  • Breast milk is the perfect food for your baby – just what baby needs, in just the right amounts.
  • Breastfed babies have fewer doctor visits and fewer trips to the hospital.
  • Breast milk changes to meet your growing baby’s needs. Formula can’t do that.
  • Breastfed babies have less colic, constipation, and diarrhea.
  • Breast milk is gentle for your baby’s stomach and easy to digest.
  • Breastfed babies have fewer earaches, colds, asthma, food allergies, and eczema.
  • Breastfed babies’ diapers have very little odor.

Good for Mom

  • Breastfeeding helps with postpartum weight loss and helps your uterus return to its normal size more quickly.
  • Breast milk is always available. It doesn’t require any mixing, measuring, heating, sterilizing, refrigeration, or cleanup.
  • Nighttime feedings are quick and easy.
  • Breastfeeding doesn’t cost anything.
  • Babies who breastfeed are easy to take along when travelling.
  • Breastfeeding is a great opportunity to cuddle with your baby.
  • Breastfeeding helps you feel confident as a mother.
  • Reading to an older child while you breastfeed your baby allows you to enjoy time with both of them.
  • Breastfeeding is a gift only you can give to your baby.
  • Reduces risk of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers.
  • Reduces postpartum depression, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes

Additional Information and Resources

How to Prepare to Breastfeed

While you’re expecting, register for our Breastfeeding Basics class to learn about proper latch and positioning, preventing nipple pain, signs your baby is getting enough, and more. After birth, our nursing and lactation support professionals can help you get started. During your first month postpartum, attend our Back to Work Breastfeeding class for guidance on continuing your breastfeeding journey after returning to work.

Once you’re home, lactation consultations are available by phone or by appointment through our Women’s Centers in Springfield and Branson. Our Springfield location also offers nursing bras, breastfeeding supplies, insurance-covered breast pumps, and hospital-grade pump rentals.

Latching for You and Your Baby

If your baby is latching before you leave the hospital:

  • Latching should feel comfortable.
  • Make sure you can hear your baby swallowing during feedings.
  • Feed your baby 8 to 12 times in 24 hours.
  • Keep a breastfeeding diary.
  • Track wet and dirty diapers to ensure your baby is getting enough milk.
  • By 1 week of age, your baby should have six or more wet diapers and three or more yellow, seedy stools every 24 hours.
  • Schedule and attend weight-check appointments.
  • Your baby should return to birth weight by 14 days.

If your baby is not latching before you leave the hospital:

  • Pump eight times in 24 hours using a double electric pump.
  • Feed your baby every 2 to 3 hours with an infant feeding cup, finger feeder, or paced bottle.
  • Spend time skin-to-skin with your baby.
  • Keep a diary of pumping times, your baby’s feedings, and wet and dirty diapers.
  • By 1 week of age, your baby should have six or more wet diapers and three or more yellow, seedy stools every 24 hours.
  • Schedule and attend weight-check appointments.
  • Your baby should return to birth weight by 14 days.
  • Schedule a lactation consultation for help with latching.

The Lactation Club - Breastfeeding/Pumping Support Group

Breastfeeding or pumping moms are welcome to join with their babies. Partners are not included. Stop by for a baby weight check, get questions answered by our lactation consultants, or connect with other moms. No registration is required. Follow CoxHealth Moms on Facebook or visit our Calendar of Events to see dates and times.

CoxHealth Moms Calendar of Events

Breast Pumping

Breast pumping is not meant to replace breastfeeding, and choosing a breast pump is an important decision. Consider cost (including batteries or other power sources), how often you’ll use the pump, how effective it is, how easy it is to use, and the level of comfort it offers. Our Women’s Center in Springfield carries quality Medela breast pumps. Not all pumps are the same. Inexpensive pumps may not create enough suction (producing little or no milk) or may create too much suction (pinching your breasts and causing pain). They also tend to break down more often than higher-quality pumps.

Types of pumps include:

  • Hand pumps: Inexpensive and portable. Pumps one side at a time, with power supplied manually by you.
  • Small battery or electric single pumps: Work on one breast at a time and are suitable for occasional use.
  • Double-electric breast pumps: Allow you to pump both breasts at the same time. Ideal for working moms or anyone who needs to pump frequently.

Insurance Breast Pumps

  • Almost all insurance companies cover a double-electric breast pump at no cost to you. Check with your insurance company during pregnancy to see what options are available.
  • To get an insurance breast pump from The Women’s Center, ask your insurance company these questions: Do they cover the purchase of a double-electric breast pump? Is “CoxHealth at Home” an acceptable Durable Medical Equipment (DME) provider? If the answer is yes to both, bring a signed breast pump prescription from your doctor, a photo ID, and your insurance card to The Women’s Center. You can pick up the pump 10 days before your due date.
  • Our insurance breast pump is the Medela Pump In Style® Pro, which is inspired by hospital-grade Symphony Plus performance. It is a closed system that prevents backflow, and the double-electric pump mimics your baby’s sucking rhythm with 2-Phase Expression. The advanced motor removes more milk in less time, and clear indicators make it easy to track pump level and mode for greater control during each session.

Hospital-Grade Breast Pump for Rent

Symphony Plus: The first hospital-grade rental pump with 2-Phase Expression® technology. It provides faster milk ejection and flow for efficiency and comfort. The pump accommodates double or single pumping and features one-knob control with whisper-quiet operation. It can be used with an electrical outlet or two internal rechargeable batteries for up to 60 minutes of pumping. A breast pump kit is required (purchase separately). Available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Additional Items Available at The Women’s Center: Pump replacement parts, special feeding devices, pumping bras, hydrogel pads, lanolin-free nipple balm, and more.

Missouri Show-Me 5 Initiative

CoxHealth follows the Missouri Show-Me 5 Initiative to help you reach your breastfeeding goals. We encourage skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth and recommend:

  • Begin breastfeeding within the first hour after birth.
  • Rooming-in: infants stay in the same room as their mother after birth.
  • Give infants only breast milk unless medically necessary.
  • Avoid pacifiers or artificial nipples for breastfeeding infants.
  • Attend our breastfeeding support group.