MGH Named Top Hospital in California for Breastfeeding
A report issued Aug. 7 by the University of California at Davis Human Lactation Center (UCD HLC) and sponsored by the California WIC Association(CWA) names Marin General Hospital as the top hospital in the state for supporting new moms in their decision to breastfeed their babies.
Studies have linked breastfeeding to a lower incidence of childhood obesity, diabetes and many infections and cancers. A Yale University study concluded that mothers who breastfeed may reduce their risk of breast cancer by half.
The Davis report, “Reducing Obesity from the Start: California Hospitals Must Increase Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates,” compares nearly every hospital in the state with regard to the rate of new moms who exclusively breastfeed while in the hospital. The report also describes what hospitals should be doing to promote exclusive breastfeeding.
“The findings are particularly compelling because in California, more than 80 percent of new moms enter the hospital expecting to breastfeed, yet only 43 percent of those women leave the hospital breastfeeding exclusively. The rest of the women use supplemental formula or other fluids provided by the hospital,” said Chris Costello, RN, IBCLC, Lactation Consultant at MGH. “95.5 percent of our moms exclusively breastfeed their newborns here. Breastfeeding benefits infants and moms in many ways. We are thrilled to receive this recognition. Our Lactation Center consultants, nurses and medical staff work very hard to ensure babies and moms get the best start with breastfeeding. There is ongoing support available through our Lactation Center, and through the county WIC program.”
Exclusive breastfeeding means that the baby receives only breast milk, and no other food or fluids.
“We’ve implemented comprehensive hospital policies that support exclusive breastfeeding. Our staff is trained in the skills necessary to assist a mother to establish exclusive breastfeeding soon after delivery. Mothers and babies room together and breastfeed often with assistance to establish feeding before they leave the hospital,” said Costello.
According to Costello, the first 72 hours after birth is a critical time for breastfeeding, as it is during those first few days that milk production begins. While breastfeeding is a natural process, many new moms and babies
need help.
New mothers and babies need support after their hospital stay, too. MGH collaborates with the county WIC program to provide bilingual breastfeeding peer counseling support both in the hospital and after discharge. The hospital also offers an on going support group for any local new mother that is free to the mother and funded by the hospital BabyNook Store.
MGH will host a “Latch” event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug.5, in the hospital’s Conference Center for moms and their breastfeeding babies. Mothers will show support for breastfeeding by breastfeeding their babies in unison at noon. The event is sponsored by the hospital, the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services, Marin Breastfeeding Coalition and the La Leche League of Marin. MGH will be one of several Local businesses being honored as a “Mother baby friendly workplace” during this event.
For information on model hospital policies that support exclusive breastfeeding, refer to the CDHS “Providing Breastfeeding Support: Model Hospital Policy Recommendations” at www.mch.dhs.ca.gov/programs/bfp/toolkit/default.htm or the CA WIC Assn.
(CWA) website at www.calwic.org.
August 9, 2006