Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding helps you and your baby stay healthy. It supports the growth and development of your baby and helps protect against illness and infection.

In Snohomish County, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program provides support, including:

• Free breast pumps and supplies
• Breastfeeding peer counselors who share first-hand experiences
• Certified breastfeeding experts (IBCLC - International Board Certified Lactation Consultants)

The First Steps program has public health nurses who are available to provide pregnancy and breastfeeding information and support. In Snohomish County, Sea Mar Community Health Centers and Step by Step offer First Steps. 

Your right to breastfeed

Washington State protects women's rights to breastfeed in public places, including parks, buses, stores, and government buildings.

All women should know their breastfeeding rights - especially those headed back to work. Employers are required to provide breastfeeding women with a reasonable break time and a private space (not a bathroom) to express milk during the work day until their child is 1 year old.

Read more about breastfeeding laws in Washington at Within Reach.

Celebrate breastfeeding through images with our Breastfeeding Tree of Life (PDF).

More resources & support

The Breastfeeding Coalition of Snohomish County maintains a Breastfeeding Resource Guide listing:

• Community breastfeeding services
• Hospital breastfeeding services
• Pumps and supplies

The list is updated once a year.