As a Certified Lactation Counselor, I have been educated about breastfeeding, and one of the big components for breastfeeding success is social support. New moms have so much going on right after a new baby arrives. Trying to navigate the world of breastfeeding support groups was challenging for me, so to help new moms, here is a list of local support groups. There’s support to be found nearly every day of the week!
There are many benefits to attending a breastfeeding mom’s group (I started going while I was pregnant just to get a sense of what it was like). You meet other moms going through the same experience as you (it’s so helpful to know I’m not the only one dealing with latch issues, or a plugged duct), they share their first-hand knowledge and experience, and groups are typically run by a lactation specialist (bonus!). There is often a very sensitive digital baby scale available for you to measure your baby’s weekly weight gain or to determine how much milk your baby takes in a feeding (you weigh the baby before and after a feeding to see how much they ate). After my twins were born, the support group was my big weekly outing with the babies. It was a safe place for me to go and nurse freely. If my babies were fussy or crying, everyone understood because we were all in the same “breastfeeding-a-new-baby-boat!”
As times and locations may change, please call ahead to confirm because there is nothing more frustrating than getting out the door with your newborn, then learning the date or place is wrong!
Monday
Where:
1. Summa Akron City Hospital, Professional Center North, 75 Arch Street, Suite B-3 (basement). Free parking is available. Please bring your parking stub to the group to be validated. Phone: (330) 375-4271
Time: 12:30pm
2. University Hospitals Elyria, 630 E River St, Elyria, OH 44035, phone: (440) 329-7466
Time: 11am
Tuesday
Where:
1. University Hospitals Landerbrook Health Center, 5850 Landerbrook Dr, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124, phone: (440) 995-3832
Time: 11:00am
2. Hillcrest Hospital, 6780 Mayfield Rd, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124, phone: (440) 312-4500
Time: 11:00am
3. Akron General Medical Center, 1 Akron General Avenue (formerly 400 Wabash Avenue) Akron, Ohio 44307, phone: 330-344-5705
Time: 12:30-2pm
Wednesday
Where:
Akron Children’s Hospital, Considine Building, 215 W Bowery St Akron, OH 44308, phone: (330) 543-4531
Time: 11:00am
Thursday
Where:
1. The Breastfeeding Center, 2800 Lincoln Way East, Massillon, OH44646, phone: (330) 837-0220
Time: 11:00am
2. University Hospitals Westlake, 960 Clague Rd, Westlake, OH, phone: (440) 250-2035
Time: 11:00am
Friday
Where:
1. Hillcrest Hospital, 6780 Mayfield Rd, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124, phone (440) 312-4500
Time: 11:00am
2. University Hospitals Elyria, 630 E River St, Elyria, OH 44035, phone: (440) 329-7466
Time: 11:00am
Evening meetings
(great for the working mom)
Where: The Breastfeeding Center, 2800 Lincoln Way East, Massillon, OH44646-4431
Phone: (330) 837-0220
When: 1st Tuesday of the month 6pm-7:30pm
Where: Hillcrest Hospital, 6780 Mayfield Rd, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124, phone (440) 312-4500
When: First and third Wednesday of the month, 6:00pm – 7:00 pm
Where: University Hospitals Elyria, 630 E River St, Elyria, OH 44035. Phone: (440) 329-7466
Time: Wednesdays, 6:00pm
