Here is our hospital's breastfeeding support policy for patients throughout
the general hospital population.

Barb Berges BS, RN, IBCLC
Rochester, New York

Unity Health System - Breastfeeding Support Policy

 Purpose:
 To encourage and support mothers choosing to breastfeed their babies with
accurate and consistent information.
 To protect and promote breastfeeding despite obstacles, i.e.
hospitalization, separation, medical treatment, etc.
 To promote practices which foster successful breastfeeding.
 To teach basic breastfeeding management to mothers and staff.

Procedure:
 1.  When a breastfeeding woman or child is admitted to any unit of Park
Ridge/St. Mary's Hospitals, contact the Lactation Consultant at WellStream
(368-4033) to help protect and maintain the breastfeeding relationship. She
can help to devise a plan that will avoid an untimely end to this important,
natural, healthy function,  including:
  pumping and storage of breastmilk,
  arranging feeding visits,
  information on effects of various medications on breastfeeding,
  minimizing disruption of breastfeeding
  steps to resume normal breastfeeding after discharge, etc.

 2.  The Nursery will provide a bassinet for use during hospitalization by
the infant of a breastfeeding mother.  The family must provide a full-time
caretaker for the infant and all supplies, i.e. diapers, wipes, clothing,
etc.

 3.  Call the Nursery on admission to obtain an electric breast pump as
needed, for use by any breastfeeding patient.  It is important to maintain
regular emptying of the lactating breasts to protect and maintain milk
production, and well as for comfort.

 4.  Unity Health System employees are encouraged to breastfeed their
babies.  Each hospital has electric breast pumps available for use free of
charge by employees while at work.  Personal pump kits are available for
sale at St. Mary's Outpatient Pharmacy and Park Ridge Apothecary.  These
kits must be purchased by each employee who uses the breast pumps.
Employees also have access to the services of the Lactation Consultant,
breastfeeding classes, Breastfeeding Helpline 368-4033, written
informational materials, etc.

 5.  WellStream's Breastfeeding Center offers Lactation Consultant
appointments for help with breastfeeding, on a fee-for-service basis, to
anyone in the community.  The Breastfeeding Helpline 368-4033 is accessible
free-of-charge.  We also offer prenatal breastfeeding classes,  inpatient
one-to-one Lactation Consultant services, written materials, telephone
follow-up, Mother-Baby Groups, sale of breastfeeding products, educational
inservices for staff,  resource for reference materials, clinical experience
in breastfeeding support for health care professionals, and evaluation of
lactation products, devices,  services, educational materials, etc.

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