HOLLAND, Mich., Aug. 8, 2023 — In honor of National Breastfeeding Month, which takes place in the US annually in August, Holland Hospital shares best practices and insights into the health benefits of nursing for mothers and babies.
Health institutions across the globe, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization, recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life with continued breastfeeding along with serving age-appropriate complementary foods for one to two years of age or older.
Breast milk offers uniquely tailored health benefits for both babies and mothers while meeting the nutritional needs of a growing baby. According to the CDC, infants who are breastfed have reduced risks of asthma, obesity, Type 1 diabetes, severe lower respiratory disease, ear infections, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and gastrointestinal infections (diarrhea/vomiting). The benefits also are equally impressive for mothers, as breastfeeding can help lower the risk of high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer.
While many understand the benefits of breastfeeding, the path to a successful journey may include a few challenges along the way. Holland Hospital’s Boven Birth Center understands that there is often a learning curve for new moms, and the team works diligently to help guide families to success.
“The lactation team is here to help mothers meet their breastfeeding goals, said Sarah Moelker, RN and BSN, clinical lactation specialist at Boven Birth Center. “We give very personalized care to support breastfeeding. By the time mom goes home with her baby, we want to make sure mom feels confident and comfortable with their feeding plan.”
Though many moms start out their breastfeeding journey on a strong foot, experts cite a trickle off during the first few months of life. According to the Michigan Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System or PRAMS, it is reported that 88.4% of Michigan families initiate breastfeeding at the hospital; however, only 56.9% are still breastfeeding at three months. The top reasons Michigan mothers stop breastfeeding, according to PRAMS, include low milk supply, difficulty latching, breastmilk not satisfying the baby, and sore or cracked nipples, among others.
Fortunately, many of these issues can be avoided with the proper coaching, which is one of the reasons experts at Boven Birth Center work with patients to provide hands-on educational experiences to help initiate a longer-term successful breastfeeding journey. Lactation support at Boven Birth Center begins while the mother and baby are patients in the hospital and includes one-on-one coaching and support.
Holland Hospital’s lactation consultants help coach mothers and their babies to establish a good latch, which is a vital part of breastfeeding. Mothers are taught different positions to hold baby in to promote a successful latch and comfort for both baby and mom. Mothers also are educated on the benefits of skin-to-skin contact and early initiation of breastfeeding. “The first few days of a baby’s life are critical for the setup of future milk production,” said Moelker. “Skin-to-skin contact and baby going to the breast are exactly what the baby needs to put in the order for a mature milk supply. The more the baby feeds, the more milk the mom will produce.”
The individual support that begins in the hospital continues beyond the hospital stay. Patients are given the direct phone line to the lactation office, providing them the option to speak with a lactation consultant even after discharge. Holland Hospital also offers a weekly support group to the community. Breastfeeding Connections is designed for moms and their infants up to eight weeks old. During the support group, lactation consultants are available to address any issues that arise during those first vital weeks. The support group also includes access to BBC’s Parent Advocates who are available to address the mental and emotional challenges that sometimes come along with welcoming a new baby.
“From pregnancy through postpartum, we aim to support breastfeeding along the way,” said Moelker.
To learn more visit hollandhospital.org/bovenbirthcenter or call (616) 494-8383.