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11.01.2025

Nevada Breastfeeds Offers Free Resources: Free Support and Resources for Families

When a baby is born, one of the first questions many parents ask is: “How do I feed my baby in the best way possible?” For families across Nevada, that question just got easier to answer.

The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) has launched Nevada Breastfeeds, a one-stop resource to help parents, families, and caregivers get the breastfeeding support they need, when they need it.

Designed by Nevada DPBH’s Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs, Nevada Breastfeeds offers families access to free lactation support, breast pumps, supplies, counseling, and education.

It also connects parents with local clinics, baby-Ffriendly hospitals, Medicaid benefit breastfeeding resources and a growing network of supportive workplaces and childcare providers.

Why Nevada Breastfeeds Matters

Breast milk provides unmatched nutrition and immune support, helping babies grow strong and healthy. But just as important, breastfeeding supports bonding, reduces health risks for parents, and lowers healthcare costs.

Despite these benefits, many families face barriers:

• They may not know their rights to breastfeed in public or pump at work.
• They may struggle to find affordable lactation support or supplies.
• They may not know where to go for help or encouragement when challenges come up.

Nevada Breastfeeds was created to remove those barriers. It provides accurate, up-to-date information, highlights family rights under Nevada law, and points families toward free, Nevada-specific support programs.

Free Supports Available for Families

The Nevada Health Authority, through Nevada Medicaid, ensures families can access high-quality, culturally appropriate breastfeeding help at no cost.

1. Lactation Support & Counseling

Parents can receive free counseling and emotional support, as well as direct help from trained lactation consultants. These experts guide families through common challenges, from latching difficulties to milk supply concerns.

2. Breast Pumps and Supplies

Families enrolled in Medicaid can access free breastfeeding supplies, including pumps, through enrolled healthcare providers. Having the right tools makes it easier to continue breastfeeding when returning to work or school.

3. Professional Support from Healthcare Providers

Many providers can deliver breastfeeding services if they are enrolled in Medicaid, including:

• Primary care physicians
• Physician assistants
• Advanced practice registered nurses
• Nurse midwives
• Lactation consultants (when working with a Medicaid-enrolled provider)

This means families can ask their regular doctors, nurses, or midwives for breastfeeding help and know it is covered.

4.WIC Program Benefits

If you have Medicaid, you are automatically presumptively eligible for the Nevada WIC Program, which provides:

• Supplemental healthy foods
• Lactation support and counseling
• Nutrition education
• Referrals to additional health and social services

Families can find their nearest WIC clinic at nevadawic.org or by calling 1-800-863-8942.

5. Specialty Formula

If you are seeking or have a WIC medical determination for specialty formula and are enrolled in Medicaid, please ask your enrolled Medicaid health care provider how you can access specialty formula through Medicaid. 

Please start this discussion as early as possible given timelines can vary for prior authorization. Please ask your provider to consider an expedited specialty formula prior authorization if the need is urgent.

Note for Providers: If you have clients enrolled in WIC who need specialty formula, their WIC medical determination form can be used in seeking expedited prior authorization (PA) for specialty formula through Medicaid, or you can prescribe for reimbursement.  The expedited PA process can vary for MCO and FFS and the timelines range from 72 hours to 4 days; non-expedited PAs can be up to 14 days. Please refer to Medicaid durable medical equipment (DME) policy on enteral nutrition in Medicaid Services Manual, Appendix B, Coverage and Limitations Policies for additional information.

What Families Will Find on NevadaBreastfeeds.org

The website is organized to make it easy for parents, employers, and providers to find what they need.

• For Parents: Information about breastfeeding basics, breastfeeding in public, your rights at work, how to safely store milk, and connections to community support groups.
• For Businesses: Tools to help employers create breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, plus the option to join Nevada’s “Breastfeeding Welcomed Here” campaign.
• For Childcare Providers: Guidance on supporting breastfeeding families, including how to safely handle stored milk and create welcoming environments.
• For Healthcare Providers: Resources on the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, training tools, and best practices to improve breastfeeding outcomes.

This combination ensures families don’t just start breastfeeding in the hospital—they have ongoing, community-wide support wherever they go.

Breastfeeding Rights in Nevada

One of the most empowering features of Nevada Breastfeeds is the section on parent rights:

• Nevada law protects your right to breastfeed in public, anywhere, anytime.
• Nevada law also requires employers to provide time and space for pumping at work.

By knowing your rights, families can feel more confident feeding their baby without stigma or unnecessary obstacles.

How First 5 Nevada Families Can Use This Resource

As a parent, you can:

• Explore the “For Parents” section to prepare before your baby arrives.
• Talk to your provider about accessing free lactation support, breast pumps, or supplies.
• Contact WIC if you have Medicaid—you are already eligible for free nutrition and breastfeeding help.
• Look for “Breastfeeding Welcomed Here” signs at local businesses and childcare providers to know you’ll be supported when out in the community.

As an early childhood professional, you can:

• Share Nevada Breastfeeds with families in your programs.
• Encourage businesses and childcare centers to join the Breastfeeding Welcomed Here pledge.
• Partner with hospitals and clinics to strengthen breastfeeding supports.

Where to Start

• Visit org for information, rights, and community connections.
• Contact your healthcare provider to learn about free Medicaid breast-feeding resources and benefits.
• Call WIC at 1-800-863-8942 or visit org for local clinics and additional support.
• Email Nevada Medicaid with questions: [email protected]

Breastfeeding can be rewarding, but it also comes with challenges. Nevada Breastfeeds is here to make sure no family faces those challenges alone.

By connecting parents to free lactation support, breast pumps, supplies, counseling, and community resources, Nevada is investing in healthier children, stronger families, and brighter futures.

As a resource created by the Nevada DPBH, Nevada Breastfeeds represents a commitment to supporting families from day one. Whether you’re a parent, provider, or community partner, this website is a tool to help all Nevada babies thrive.

Nevada Breastfeeds: Because every family deserves support.