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Breastfeeding Support
Who we are
The Breastfeeding Program at SickKids is a team of registered nurses who are also lactation consultants and are specially trained to provide breastfeeding and lactation support to families with sick infants. We can help parents who are having any challenges with pumping or breastfeeding. We are primarily available to families of patients who are admitted to SickKids, but also see families in a few of our clinics.
If your child is not currently admitted at SickKids and you require breastfeeding support, please contact your birth hospital or visit Ontario Breastfeeds to find lactation support in your area.
Pumping
SickKids provides hospital grade pumps and breast pump kits on each unit of the hospital. We ask that you use the SickKids’ pumps and kits while in hospital, as this is the best equipment to establish or maintain a breast milk supply for a hospitalized baby. Please ask your nurse for this equipment and for a referral to a lactation consultant for any concerns, such as pain with pumping or low milk supply.
Where to pump
If the baby is in NICU/PICU/CCCU:
- 3 breast pump rooms in the NICU. *Only to be used by NICU families.
- 1 breast pump room in the PICU/CCCU. *Only to be used by CCCU/PICU families
- 1 secondary breast pump room with 4 pumping pods (Black Wing – Room 2319). *Only to be used by NICU/CCCU/PICU families.
Alternate pump rooms for any family:
- Main Floor Rm. M464 open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- 7th floor Rm. 7732, open 24 hours.
Breastfeeding
Whether you are initiating breastfeeding for the first time, or are trying to resume breastfeeding after it has been interrupted by hospitalization, our team at SickKids is available to provide you with support, as needed.
When your baby is ready to breastfeed, as determined by your baby’s health-care team, you can request a referral to be seen by a lactation consultant. We can help with breastfeeding difficulties, such as:
- difficulty with latch
- nipple/breast pain
- assessing milk intake at the breast
- incorporating breastfeeding into a complex feeding plan
Additional breastfeeding videos
- Oral Immune Therapy (breast milk mouth care)
- Kangaroo Care and the hospitalized baby
- Kangaroo Care and the hospitalized infant - ventilated babies
- Breastfeeding Intake Assessment - Part 1: How to know if a baby is drinking enough milk
- Breastfeeding Intake Assessment - Part 2: How to do a test weight with Medela BabyWeigh
- Breastfeeding Intake Assessment – Part 2: How to do a test weight with Medela BabyWeigh II
Pumping log
Tip! To track your milk volumes, it is helpful to use a pump log or pumping app.
Resource booklet
For more information about pumping at SickKids please review our resource booklet.
Breastfeeding log
Tip! To monitor your child’s feeding, it is helpful to use a breastfeeding log or breastfeeding app.
AboutKidsHealth Learning Hub
Visit the AboutKidsHealth learning hub for more helpful tips and information about breastfeeding.
Contact us
Phone: 416-813-5757, option 2
Email: lactation.consultants@sickkids.ca
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.