Newsworthy

Each August, National Breastfeeding Month raises awareness about breastfeeding’s benefits and positive impact on infants’ health. Stormont Vail Health is committed to supporting successful breastfeeding and each mother’s choices throughout the year.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

One of breastfeeding’s most significant benefits is the excellent nutrition it provides babies. As babies develop, their mother’s body adapts simultaneously to produce milk suitable for their changing needs. In addition to high levels of protein, fat, and sugar, breastmilk is easier for infants’ developing digestive systems to absorb, ensuring they receive the full nutritional benefit.

Breastmilk also contains infection-fighting antibodies and white blood cells that work to fight infection in many ways. Between this protection and the nutritional benefit, breastfed babies typically get sick less often and have fewer risks of ear infections, diarrhea, and stomach problems.

Breastfeeding also helps develop babies’ sense of taste, a lesser-known but key benefit. Breastmilk exposes infants to different flavors, whereas baby formula has only one taste. Breastmilk gives babies a slight, indirect taste of whatever mom eats.

What Breastfeeding Support Does Stormont Vail Provide?

As Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai said, “Strong moms raise strong children who can change the world.” With that in mind, Stormont Vail strives to give all mothers the support they deserve. From our accreditations and designations to our classes and programs, supporting families is always our priority.

As High 5 for Mom and Baby facilities, our Topeka and Flint Hills Campus labor and delivery teams are committed to breastfeeding success during and after your stay. Our healthcare providers undergo additional education and training on the latest best practices to support successful breastfeeding, such as immediate skin-to-skin contact after delivery and 24/7 “rooming in.”

Topeka Campus

The Breastfeeding Center

At our Breastfeeding Center in Topeka, board-certified lactation consultants, certified breastfeeding educators, and specially trained healthcare providers support parents with advice, answers, resources, and more.

In addition, the Breastfeeding Center can help with other issues that may arise when you welcome a new baby into your family. You can visit the Center whenever it’s open if you have any questions about your new baby—not just those related to breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding Classes

Breastfeeding Basics is an introduction to breastfeeding class held by the Breastfeeding Center. It focuses on providing expecting moms and their families with an opportunity to learn about breastfeeding before their baby is born. In the class, you’ll learn how breastfeeding works, how to get started, problems that may arise, and how to incorporate breastfeeding into your work.

Delivering Change at the Flint Hills Campus

Delivering Change is a unique program at our Flint Hills Campus. It provides mothers and fathers with education, support, and guidance. Unlike other breastfeeding clinics in the area, Delivering Change offers its resources for free to anyone who needs them, including:

• Multiple on-site lactation counselors
• Funding for those who want to become certified lactation counselors
• Education programs like Becoming a Mom and Becoming a Dad

“I encourage all moms to take the Becoming a Mom class,” said Ashley King, a lactation counselor with Delivering Change. “It gives you so much helpful information about breastfeeding and resources from Stormont Vail and the community. Our services are free, and we want to help support parents in any way we can!”

We Support Your Choice

While breastfeeding provides numerous benefits for both mothers and their children, we understand it’s an option for everyone. Many factors can make breastfeeding difficult or impossible for some. In other cases, mothers may choose not to breastfeed at all. Whatever your choice, Stormont Vail is here to support you and your baby’s health and well-being.

“Breastfeeding is great, but it’s not the end-all-be-all,” said Dr. Jarett Skinner, Flint Hills Campus OB/GYN. “The most important thing is that a mother cares for her baby, loves her baby, and feeds her baby – whether breastfeeding or from a bottle. Being unable to breastfeed or choosing not to doesn’t make you less of a mother. The important thing is your baby’s care and health.”

As we promote the benefits of breastfeeding during National Breastfeeding Month, we also recognize the importance of supporting all mothers’ decisions—because, ultimately, the best feeding method is the one that works for both mother and baby.

We Support Full Babies and Successful Parents

Whether you’re having your first or fourth baby, Stormont Vail is here to help you enjoy confidence and success at every step. Get to know our Mother and Baby team and the resources and programs they provide.