August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month! Regional One Health offers a robust lactation support program for new parents.
Our experts provide support, resources and education aimed at helping parents succeed at breastfeeding and skin-to-skin care.
They say encouraging breastfeeding and skin-to-skin care is an important way to provide ideal nutrition and emotional support for babies.
Welcoming a new baby is a major milestone, and parents want to give their little one a healthy start in life. Breastfeeding and skin-to-skin care are two powerful practices to promote health and emotional wellbeing and create a strong foundation for your child’s growth and development.
Christy Brooks, RN, BSN, IBCLC, nurse coordinator for lactation, said Regional One Health offers one of the most robust lactation programs in the community to help parents incorporate breastfeeding and skin-to-skin time into their routine.
“Support from the hospital setting is important, so we do everything we can to help parents succeed,” she said. “Our doctors, nurses, staff, etc. focus on education, providing resources, and giving plenty of opportunities for breastfeeding and skin-to-skin care.”
Certified lactation nurses visit every postpartum patient in our Labor & Delivery Center daily unless there is a contraindication to breastfeeding and are available for additional consultations when requested. A lactation nurse is onsite every day, including weekends, and they offer nighttime hours.
Regional One Health also helps with supplies and resources after families leave the hospital. They provide take-home resources and a phone number and email for patients to contact if they have questions; and they share external resources including a 24-hour breastfeeding hotline and information about a variety of breastfeeding support groups in the Mid-South.
Brooks said her team shares the following tips to encourage successful breastfeeding and skin-to-skin care:
Our lactation experts suggest finding a quiet, comfortable place for breastfeeding, and keep water and snacks nearby.
- Create a comfortable environment: Find a quiet space, use pillows to support your back and arms, and keep water and snacks nearby.
- Follow your baby’s cues: Feeding when your baby is hungry or upset, rather than on a strict schedule, can help ensure your baby gets enough nourishment and comfort.
- Make time for skin-to-skin: Dedicate specific times of day for skin-to-skin contact, such as right after feeding or during naptime.
- Stay patient and positive: If you encounter challenges, seek support from a lactation consultant or breastfeeding support group. Finding what works best for you is key.
Brooks said Regional One Health focuses on breastfeeding and skin-to-skin care because of their enormous benefits.
Breastfeeding is often referred to as the gold standard in infant nutrition, she noted. Breastmilk is easy for your baby to digest and provides all the nutrients they need.
“Breastmilk is uniquely designed to meet your baby’s nutritional needs,” Brooks explained. “It contains a perfect balance of proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals for growth and development, and as your baby grows it changes to match their changing needs.”
Breastmilk is also rich in antibodies and other immune-boosting components that help protect your baby from infections and illnesses, which means breastfed babies have a lower risk of ear infections, respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal issues.
It also lowers the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and can reduce the risk of your child developing chronic conditions like asthma, obesity, and type 2 diabetes later in life.
Skin-to-skin care is a powerful way to bond with your baby, regulate their body temperature, and make them feel secure.
For moms, breastfeeding can help with postpartum weight loss and is linked to a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
Breastfeeding also plays a significant role in fostering emotional wellbeing, Brooks said. The physical closeness and eye contact strengthen the mother-baby bond, providing a sense of security and comfort; and breastfeeding helps regulate your baby’s emotions and stress levels.
The breastfeeding mom’s partner can also be part of the bonding routine through skin-to-skin care, which is the simple practice of placing your newborn directly on your bare chest.
Skin-to-skin care, or “kangaroo care,” helps babies regulate body temperature, stabilizes heart rate and breathing, and promotes overall cardiovascular health. It can also promote successful breastfeeding by stimulating milk production and encouraging the baby’s instinct to latch.
“Skin-to-skin contact is a great way to strengthen the emotional bond between parents and babies,” Brooks said. “It provides a sense of safety and security for the baby, which helps with their overall emotional development.”
Brooks encourages families to approach breastfeeding and skin-to-skin care with an open mind and to find what works best for them.
“The journey of parenthood is unique for every family, and finding what works best for you and your baby is the most important step,” she said. “Regional One Health is here to help support families to be successful in breastfeeding and skin-to-skin care, because we see how these practices nurture your baby’s grown and development while fostering a deep and loving bond.”