811 does not currently provide skilled breastfeeding support by lactation consultants on its phoneline in British Columbia.

Since Covid, breastfeeding rates have gone down because there are less supports available. After leaving the hospital there are few places to get help and there are often long waitlists. This leaves families to their own devices. Many end up quitting breastfeeding and some babies are readmitted to the hospital for feeding related problems

The solution would be to have skilled lactation consultations available on 811 to help families through the early days of breastfeeding and through urgent breastfeeding concerns. Ontario has addressed this problem with 24'7 lactation consultants available through their provincial phone line.