Breastfeeding Support Programs

The groups meets:
Every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Potter Conference Center (at South County Hospital in Wakefield).
Every Friday from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the South County Health Medical & Wellness Center Westerly conference room (268 Post Rd., Rt 1, near Walmart)
Pre-registration is not required. Questions? Call 401 788-1226 or 401-792-2229.

The Hospital's New Moms' Support Group provides support to new moms and their babies in a casual, group setting. A certified childbirth educator and OB nurse leads the group, facilitating discussion and education on a variety of topics, including feeding, baby sleeplessness, colic, parental sleep deprivation and postpartum stress. Certified lactation consultants are also on hand to answer questions.

Home Care:
Infants and children who have had surgery, an injury, or an illness.
Wound and cast care
Care for Asthma, new diabetics, seizure disorders
Medication administration
Physical, occupational, or speech therapies
Instruction in use of home medical equipment
Care for premature infants from Special Care Nurseries and Neonatal Intensive Care Units.
Linkages to community resources.

Women with early maternity discharge and post-partum complications.
Breast feeding instruction and support
Wound care
Post partum care and monitoring for complications
Nutritional support
Assessment for maternal depression

First Connections at VNS of Newport and Bristol Counties provides free, voluntary, confidential home visits in pregnant women and families with young children, birth to age three. First Connections is funded by the Rhode Island Department of Health and Department of Human Services. [https://www.vnsri.org/Home-Care/First-Connections-Program.aspx] Trained nurses, social workers, and community health workers meet with families in their homes to talk about their needs, answer questions they may have, and conduct comprehensive assessments. If needed, home visitors can make arrangements for interpretation services during home visits and link families with medical homes and social services. Home visits are based on the needs of the family. Visit topics may include health education and connections with appropriate healthcare services, human services, and community resources.

Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties is an independent, non-profit home health agency that cares for people of all ages, from mothers and newborns to seniors with chronic illnesses to patients with terminal illnesses at end of life. We are not a division of any larger health care organization; the VNS of Newport and Bristol Counties is your independent, local VNS that brings quality health care to patients and families at home and in community settings.

Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)

• Specialized Nutrition Education
• Breastfeeding Classes and Support
• Healthcare Referrals
• WIC Card for Healthy Foods

WIC Information from Rhode Island Department of Health

Please call to confirm hours of business and if in-person visits are permitted.

Wood River Health Centers' mission is to improve the health and well-being of our community by providing high quality, coordinated health and support services, accessible to all. 

 Information on the wide range of services available at the Wood River Health Services can be found at an additional RI Directory Listing. 

Provides national breastfeeding and women’s health hotlines and works to improve the health and sense of wellbeing of all U.S. women and girls.

Website resources A-Z Health Topics. Supporting nursing mothers at work.

OWN Helpline: Helpline connects callers with information and resources to answer health questions.

Medela's primary focus is breastfeeding - by helping moms to successfully breastfeed their babies and to do so for as long as they choose. This includes production of breastfeeding equipment as well as training and educational materials.

Products include special devices for breastfeeding cleft lip/palate infants. They also have available, infant scales for measuring breastmilk intake.

They also offer an online support community, Ask the LC, and Breastfeeding University. Also information about insurance coverage for breast pumps.

Certification for doulas, childbirth educators, and lactation educators.

Online Directory: Find doulas and educators by certification, location, or services.