Why these first days matter

In the first days after birth, early and frequent milk removal is what builds a full milk supply. For a mother whose baby cannot yet breastfeed effectively, because the baby arrived early, is very low birth weight, or needs time in the NICU, that window is both the most important and the hardest to manage.

A mother's own milk is the optimal nutrition for these infants, lowering the risk of serious complications like necrotizing enterocolitis. And these first hours and days are when a full supply is established, or lost.

Where you come in

The team at the bedside is a family's first and best chance to begin. When a mother has a pump in her hands and someone to show her how to start, before exhaustion and worry set in, it can change the course of her whole feeding journey.

Access MOM (Mother's Own Milk) exists so that no family misses that window for lack of a pump or someone to guide them, and so that you have what you need, the equipment and the support, to help them start strong.

What the evidence says

From the American Academy of Pediatrics

• A mother's own milk is the optimal nutrition for very low birth weight infants, lowering the risk of serious complications such as necrotizing enterocolitis.
• Promoting human milk for these infants requires access to effective, efficient, and comfortable double electric breast pumps, in the hospital and at home.
• Mothers should be trained on their pump and supplies before discharge, including suction strength, pain while pumping, and proper flange fit.
• Local breast pump access programs are a practical way to reduce inequities in which families are able to provide their own milk.

From the National Academies (2025)

• About 84% of US mothers begin breastfeeding, but more than half stop sooner than they intended, and only about 27% are still exclusively breastfeeding at six months. The National Academies attribute that gap to structural barriers and unequal access, not to mothers' intentions.
• They call for guaranteeing every family equal access to covered breastfeeding supplies and equipment, including a breast pump, and for protecting postpartum Medicaid coverage through the first year.

The pump we provide: Cimilre S6+

The pump itself matters. Families in the program receive the Cimilre S6+, chosen for comfort, portability, and real-world performance.

• High quality, effective, and comfortable, and suitable for high-frequency use
• Portable and light at under two pounds, with a rechargeable battery
• Up to 80 cycles per minute in massage mode and 46 in expression mode
• Double-pump suction up to 255 mmHg, comparable to the Medela Symphony (250 mmHg) that is widely used in hospitals

About Breastfeed Atlanta

Breastfeed Atlanta is a multi-specialty lactation practice serving families across metro Atlanta. We combine physician-led medical oversight with IBCLC-certified lactation care, offered in our breastfeeding center, in your home, or by secure virtual visit. We accept most commercial insurance plans and all Georgia Medicaid CMOs.

Our mission

The difference you make

When you help a mother begin, you are giving her baby the strongest possible start and giving her a real chance to reach her own feeding goals. That is the heart of Access MOM, and we are honored to do this work alongside you.