Lactation Services

St. Francis is widely considered to offer the best Lactation Services in the Upstate. Recently, St. Francis was awarded with the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants' Care Award for its outstanding breastfeeding services. Our certified Lactation Specialists truly care for our patients and want the best for both mom and baby, and they provide a variety of support services for St. Francis patients who have chosen to breastfeed. The goal of our Lactation team is to help moms reach their goals for breastfeeding. For more breastfeeding information or to learn more about our lactation services, patients in Greenville, Spartanburg, Clemson, and surrounding Upstate, SC areas can take advantage of one of our many inpatient and outpatient support programs.




During Pregnancy

Our trained professionals can start caring for you even before your baby is born! Our certified Lactation Consultants offer pre-natal breast assessments and a Breastfeeding Class to instruct on the basics of breastfeeding. Through the St. Francis Lactation Center, a bra fitter can even help fit you for pregnancy and nursing bras.

At the Hospital

After you have given birth, you will be assisted with breastfeeding by your Mother/Infant Unit nurse. She will coach you through the first feeding, and will encourage you to nurse while guiding you through technique, positions, frequency of feeding, pumping options, and answering any additional breastfeeding questions that you may have.

St. Francis is fortunate to have certified Lactation Consultants on staff who are available to meet with moms who run into difficulty breastfeeding or need more advanced advice. Should breastfeeding difficulties arise, your nurse will assist you in getting in touch with a Lactation Consultant.

Because of the many benefits breastfeeding has for both mom and baby, the US Department of Health established a goal of having 75% of new moms start breastfeeding in the hospital. We are proud that our current rate of initiating breastfeeding is 77%, better than the national average and even exceeding the national goal.  

Outpatient Support

Once you have gone home, the Consultants are also available for outpatient support. The Breastfeeding Phone Line (864-675-4215) offers the opportunity for you to call and speak with a Consultant one-on-one, in which she can answer questions or provide you with access to other needed materials. The phone line is covered Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Feel free to leave a message and a Consultant will return your call as soon as possible.

Personal consultations are offered for nursing mothers who many need assessments such as baby weight checks or pump instructions. Please call to make an appointment with one of our Lactation Consultants; the first 15 minutes of any visit are free.

The St. Francis Lactation Center is a great resource for all of your nursing needs, including hard-to-find nursing supplies, bras, and breast pumps. The center is located on the 4th floor at ST. FRANCIS eastside, and offers services and supplies designed to help breastfeeding mothers. The Center sells hard-to-find lactation items such as Medela pumps, nursing bras, nursing gowns and accessories. You may also rent a breast pump for $35/two weeks or $70/month -- please call 675-4215 for rental information.


Our Lactation Consultants

We are fortunate to have International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) on staff at ST. FRANCIS eastside. Our goal is to be the community’s resource for excellence in breastfeeding services. Our mission is to help mothers reach their personal breastfeeding goals. We welcome any requests and referrals to our lactation services. Patients in Greenville, Spartanburg, Clemson, and surrounding Upstate, SC areas can review our class list for upcoming breastfeeding classes or visit the St. Francis Lactation Center for nursing supplies and more.

Retail

The Lactation Center at ST. FRANCIS eastside offers an array of hard-to-find breastfeeding and lactation items. Hospital grade breast pumps are available to rent, personal pumps are available for purchase, as are nursing bras and other lactation items. 

Bra Fittings

All of our Lactation Consultants are Medela Certified bra fitters. We recommend that you be fitted for a nursing bra either two weeks prior to your due date or anytime following delivery. To schedule a bra fitting with an Outpatient Lactation Consultant before your due date, please call 864-675-4215. You can also request that a Lactation Consultant visit you in your hospital room after delivery for a bra fitting.

When choosing a nursing bra, you will want one that offers easy access to the breast for your baby and still provides comfort for you. However, there are various types of nursing bras. Some women prefer nursing bras that have underwire, while others find that it can lead to plugged ducts. Therefore, you will want to look for a bra that either has removable underwire or no underwire at all. Some women also prefer nursing bras that have flaps that cover the breast. When nursing your baby, you just have to unclasp the flap to feed your baby. The bra still conceals all areas except for where the baby is suckling. Flaps are not a requirement, but they may make nursing easier for some mothers.

Aside from these preferences, there are other considerations when choosing a nursing bra. You also want to make sure that your bra doesn’t fit too tightly, because this can lead to plugged ducts, which can result in lower milk supply. Nursing bras with wider straps are also more comfortable than ones with thinner straps.

Pump Rentals

Some moms may need to rent a hospital grade pump to take home, and a Lactation Consultant can determine if this is necessary. Your pump can be rented before you leave and will be ready for you to take home. If you realize that you need a pump when you return home, you can call and arrange to pick up a rented pump that will accommodate your breastfeeding needs. For any questions regarding pump rentals, please call 864-675-4215 or 864-675-4400.

Renting vs. Buying

When deciding whether to rent or buy a breast pump, you should ask yourself how long, why, where, and how often you plan to pump. Your answers to these questions will assist you in deciding which option is best for you, your baby, and your finances.

Renting is recommended if you have needs that require more efficient pumping. Hospital-grade breast pumps, which are rented, can be helpful if you have low milk supply, a premature baby, a baby that cannot breastfeed, or if you have twins and need to produce more milk. If you are unsure that pumping will be a common practice for you or if you plan to pump for less than six months, renting may be the better option financially.

Buying is recommended if you have a healthy baby and good milk supply. Personal pumps are also easier to carry around with you. If you plan on pumping for more than six months or plan on having more children, buying may be the better option financially.  


Breast pumps are either electric/battery-powered or manual. While some moms use both, there is normally a strong preference for one type rather than another.

A hospital-grade electric breast pump is recommended for moms who are having trouble nursing or if they are having difficulty building up their milk supply. If your baby is born premature or you have a medical condition that affects your milk production, you will likely use this type of pump. These hospital-grade pumps have a rapid suck-and-release cycle that draws milk at about the same rate as a nursing baby would. If you have a pump that can pump both breasts at once, you can cut down pumping time in half.

A top-end electric personal-use pump is recommended for moms who need to pump more than once a day, because they have the efficiency of the hospital-grade pump but are also conveniently portable. This type of pump is a popular choice for moms who are unable to nurse frequently because of full-time jobs or other reasons. These pumps have quick cycling times and adjustable suction levels. Like the hospital-grade, these pumps have double-pumping capacity. These pumps usually weigh five pounds or less, so they are portable.

An inexpensive manual and mid-range electric or battery-operated pump is recommended for moms who need to pump once a day or less. These pumps are best for short-term separations, such as Mom leaving the baby with a babysitter. Many of these pumps weigh less than two pounds, so they are portable. They are also more affordable. However, they take longer to use and require more manual effort than the top-end pumps.