Breastfeeding Services
A certified lactation consultant is available at VVMC who can help you prevent and solve breastfeeding problems in an environment that encourages and supports breastfeeding families.
Benefits of breastfeeding
Benefits for baby:
- Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. A mother’s milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein needed for a baby’s growth and development.
- Most babies digest breast milk easier than they do formula. As a result, breastfed infants grow exactly the way they should. They tend to gain less unnecessary weight and to be leaner. This may result in being less overweight later in life.
- Premature babies do better when breastfed compared to premature babies who are fed formula.
- Breastfed babies score slightly higher on IQ tests, especially babies who were born prematurely.
- Breastfed babies need fewer medical visits
- Breastfed babies have fewer colds, ear infections, diarrhea an fewer allergies
Benefits for mom:
- Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds of pregnancy. It also helps the uterus get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth.
- Breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding (no supplementing with formula), delays the return of normal ovulation and menstrual cycles. However, you still should talk with your doctor or nurse about birth control choices.
- Breastfeeding makes your life easier. It saves time and money. You do not have to purchase, measure, and mix formula. There are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night. A mother can give her baby immediate satisfaction by providing her breast milk when her baby is hungry.
- Breastfeeding requires a mother to take some quiet relaxed time for herself and her baby.
- Breastfeeding can help a mother to bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm and comforted.
- Breastfeeding mothers may have increased self-confidence and feeling of closeness and bonding with their infants.
Benefits for society:
Breastfeeding reduces the cost of infant care by more than $100 per month. Breastfeeding saves on healthcare costs. Total medical care costs for the nation are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants since breastfed infants typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations.
- Breastfeeding contributes to a more productive workforce. Breastfeeding mothers miss less work, as their infants are sick less often. Employer medical costs also are lower and employee productivity is higher.
- Breastfeeding is better for our environment because there is less trash and plastic waste compared to than produced by formula cans and bottle supplies.
What to expect
Breastfeeding should be relaxing and enjoyable. However, things may not always go smoothly or exactly as planned. We can help you with your questions. Many moms have concerns about:
- Sore nipples
- Painful breasts
- Slow weight gain/weight loss
- Fussy, gassy babies
- Exhaustion
- Poor latch on
- Breast and nipple infections
Breastfeeding problems can seem overwhelming. However, they usually are overcome with prompt, expert advice and assistance.
Education
The lactation consultant can provides information and instruction, and assist in the following instances:
- Flat or inverted nipples
- A baby with tongue-tie or other oral difficulties
- Twins or triplets
- A premature or sick infant
- An infant with congenital problems
- A jaundiced infant
- Questions about a history of breast surgery
- Questions about medications
- Insufficient milk supply
- Breastfeeding when mom and baby are separated
- Breastfeeding Supplies
The lactation consultant can suggest different methods to help make breastfeeding more successful. Several breastfeeding supplies are available including:
- Supplemental nursing systems for infants with sucking difficulties/and/or poor weight gain
- Breast shells for inverted or sore nipples
- Breast pumps
- Lanolin
Services Available
To help you have an enjoyable breastfeeding experience, many services are available including:
- Lactation consultant with expertise to solve breastfeeding problems
- Information, support and encouragement for parents
- Rentals and sales on breast pumps and other supplies
- Resources for mothers on breastfeeding issues
- Prenatal breastfeeding classes
For more information, please call the Warmline at 928 639-6662 or the Perinatal Services department at 928 639-6520.
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