Southwestern Public Health offers help with breastfeeding and lactation consultation for people who live in Elgin County, Oxford County, and the City of St. Thomas. This is a free service with a Public Health Nurse.
How to start breastfeeding
It is important to surround yourself with good support while you are learning. Ask for support from friends and family and reach out to community resources. Give yourself lots of time and patience.
The Breastfeeding Matters Booklet provides quality information about how to breastfeed your baby.
Looking for information about infant formula? Read Infant Formula: What You Need to Know.
Help with breastfeeding
Contact us for help if you think something doesn’t seem right. Watch for these signs that you may need further breastfeeding help:
- Your baby is feeding less than 8 times in 24 hours
- Your baby has black stools after day 4
- Your baby has fewer than 3 stools and 6 wet diapers in 24 hours after day 4
- Your baby is unusually sleepy, fussy or restless
- Your nipples hurt
- Your breasts feel hard and painful
- You feel like you have the flu
Sign up for free breastfeeding support
Breastfeeding resources in your community
You can get breastfeeding support from any of the resources listed below, or from your health care provider. You can also get support from other families that are pregnant or breastfeeding.
| Telehealth Ontario |
Access 24/7 breastfeeding support in over 100 languages over the phone:
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| La Leche League Peer Support Groups |
| Connect with local peer leaders and other breastfeeding families in the LLLC St. Thomas-Elgin Group or the LLLC Woodstock Group. |
| West Elgin Community Health Centre |
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WECHC provides free breastfeeding support for residents of West Elgin and Dutton Dunwich municipalities: 153 Main Street, West Lorne |
| Other Community Support |
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Need more support?
Call our Know & Grow Line
Speak to a Public Health Nurse to get the answers to all the questions you never knew you had.
- In Oxford County, call the Know & Grow Line at 519-421-9901 x 3473
- In Elgin County, call the Know & Grow Line at 519-631-9900 x 1400