Breastfeeding Classes
We recommend that mothers-to-be and their partners or labor coaches take our breastfeeding class during the first or second trimester of pregnancy. The breastfeeding class focuses on the advantages of breastfeeding, nutrition, positioning, feeding cues, and breast pumps. This class is taught by a registered nurse who is also a certified lactation counselor.
All classes are scheduled on Monday evenings from 6-8 p.m. Please use the Glencoe Hospital entrance when you arrive.
This class is FREE, but we do ask you to register. Registrations close at noon on the Friday before the class.
Register online for an upcoming class:
To register offline for the breastfeeding class, call 320-864-7824.
Breastfeeding Consultations
Getting started with breastfeeding and finding a comfortable routine takes time and patience. If you’re struggling with breastfeeding, our midwife services department may be able to help. They offer breastfeeding consultations to help moms become successful with breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding consultations include an assessment of your baby’s latch and addresses common issues moms may face, such as low supply, engorgement, over supply, nursing multiples, sore nipples, blocked milk ducts, thrush, tongue tie and more. They also include expert advice on how to make your breastfeeding experience enjoyable.
To schedule an appointment for a breastfeeding consultation, call 320-864-7816. No referral is necessary.
McLeod County Health & Human Services also offers free, individualized breastfeeding support to residents of McLeod County. Whether you have questions about latching, nutrition, medications you can take while nursing or your baby’s weight gain, Public Health can help. You can meet one-on-one with a nurse or lactation consultant:
- In the privacy of your home
- At McLeod County Health & Human Services offices at 520 Chandler Ave. N. in Glencoe
- Via telephone
To learn more, call McLeod County Public Health at 320-864-3185.
Breastfeeding Support Group
Moms Like You is a local support group for pregnant and breastfeeding moms. Whether you are thinking about breastfeeding or are looking for encouragement in any part of your breastfeeding journey, the group offers the opportunity to network with other women and learn from one another.
When: 9 – 10 am on the third Saturday of each month
Where: Hunter’s Ridge Community Church | 850 School Road SW | Hutchinson, MN 55350
For more information, contact Jessica at 320-484-4337 or Andrea at 320-405-7179.
Blocked Milk Ducts
Women may experience a variety of challenges when breastfeeding, but one of the most common is a blocked milk duct. Blocked milk ducts are painful and make breastfeeding more difficult. Once you have a blocked duct, your chances of getting another increase if you aren’t careful. A blocked duct can also lead to mastitis, a bacterial infection in your breast.
You should seek medical attention if you have a tender or painful area of swelling in your breast, or if you have a fever and an area of localized redness with warmth in your breast. Your health care provider can prescribe medication in the event of mastitis and provide information on techniques that can be used to unblock the duct. Common remedies for treating a blocked milk duct may include:
- Applying heat before breastfeeding
- Frequent feedings
- Feeding your baby from the affected side first
- Gentle massage toward the nipple
- Positioning your baby with mouth toward the affected area
- Pumping milk after breastfeeding
- Applying cold packs after breastfeeding
- Avoiding restrictive clothing
- Consulting with a lactation consultant
If these strategies are not effective in clearing the blocked duct, or if you experience recurrent mastitis or blocked milk ducts, your health care provider may refer you to physical therapy. Our physical therapists offer specialized treatment for block milked ducts.
