Breastfeeding Support

Personalized Breastfeeding Support

At St. John’s Regional Medical Center, we provide highly qualified health care professionals to help you with the most wonderful experience you may ever have – the birth of your baby. We promote the health of mothers and newborns by supporting breastfeeding and skin-to-skin bonding. Breastfeeding is the healthiest and safest way to feed your baby. Breast milk is all your baby needs for the first 6 months of life. In fact, babies don’t even need water until they are six months old. During your hospital stay, all moms will be encouraged to breastfeed. If you choose to formula feed your baby, know that your decision will be respected by our staff and you will also receive support and guidance to bottle feed your baby. Our nurses will show you how to hold your baby and how to help the baby latch on. You will be given accurate and consistent advice about how to breastfeed and how to make enough milk for your baby. Your baby will not be supplemented with formula, sugar water, or given a pacifier unless medically needed. You will receive information that will support your effort to provide breast milk before you leave the hospital.

Benefits of Breastfeeding:

  • Breastfeeding is healthy for baby: fewer infections, less diabetes, less obesity, lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

     

  • Breastfeeding is healthy for mom: lose weight faster, lower risk of cancer and lower risk of diabetes

     

  • Premature (preemies) and special needs babies need breast milk too: your nurse will assist you with the support you will need to provide breast milk for your preemie or special needs baby.

     

For more information, please call to sign up (805) 988-2796.

More About Our Approach to Infant Feeding Care

At St. John's Regional Medical Center, we help all families create a feeding plan, whether they choose breast milk, formula or a combination of both.

We follow the latest scientific recommendations and stand by the following six guiding principles:

  • Promote breastfeeding for its health benefits.

     

    We believe that human milk is the most natural way to nourish an infant. Babies who drink only breast milk have a lower risk of health problems, including ear infections, asthma, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and heart disease later in life.

  • Foster skin-to-skin contact for improved well-being.

     

    Research shows that early skin-to-skin contact is ideal for introducing babies to breastfeeding and their new surroundings. Keeping mothers and babies together during the hospital stay also creates bonding opportunities. We support keeping mothers and babies together unless separation is medically necessary.

  • Extend feeding support beyond breastfeeding.

     

    While human milk is the best source of nutrition for infants, we fully support parents who may need to complement breastfeeding with donated human milk or infant formula.

  • Provide human milk to premature babies in NICU.

     

    Many Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) parents are overwhelmed and need special support to feed their infants. Our nurses and breastfeeding support staff educate families on how to use breast pumps and feed expressed human milk correctly.

  • Teach, empower and support parents.

     

    Our staff provides lactation support and education to help families meet their goals and feel confident in feeding their baby. Parents who know how to breastfeed and feel comfortable breastfeeding are more likely to succeed.

  • Build a strong breastfeeding foundation.

     

    Support, knowledge and practice are essential for successful breastfeeding beyond the hospital walls. As families prepare to leave the hospital, our staff ensures they have the necessary local resources and information to continue their journey with confidence.

Beneficios del Amamantamiento:

  • El amamantamiento es saludable para el bebé: menor cantidad de inyecciones, menos diabetes, menos obesidad, menor riesgo de Muerte Súbita del Infante (SIDS).

     

  • El amamantamiento es saludable para la mamá: descenso de peso más rápido, menor riesgo de cáncer y de diabetes.

     

  • Los bebés prematuros y con necesidades especiales también necesitan leche materna: su enfermera la asistirá con el apoyo que usted necesita para brindarle leche materna a su bebé prematuro o con necesidades especiales.  

     

Para obtener más información,  favor de llamar al Servicio de Lactancia de St. John's (805) 988-2796.