(Alliston, Ontario – April 5, 2010) For any new mother, learning how to breastfeed their new baby can be a challenging and emotional experience. Overtired and adapting to their new babies, moms are faced with a new challenge of learning, along with their baby, how to properly breastfeed; an experience that, without proper support, can leave many moms frustrated and force them to give up breastfeeding in the early stage.
A recent report by Toronto Public Health that surveyed 1,500 new moms revealed that 39 per cent of first-time mothers left the Hospital with free infant formula. This, despite strong support from the World Health Organization, Health Canada, and the Canadian Paediatric Society promoting exclusive breastfeeding up to six-months of age as a way to ensure long-term health benefits for both mom and baby. The report also identified moms who were given formula stopped breastfeeding sooner than those women who were not given formula, and those who do not receive formula samples were three times more likely to remain exclusively breastfeeding after two weeks.
Stevenson Memorial Hospital has taken a proactive approach to support breastfeeding mothers since re-opening its Birthing Unit in April, 2008. New moms are encouraged and assisted to breastfeed by the Birthing Unit staff within the first hour of giving birth as early support and education can contribute to a successful breastfeeding experience. Babies are not fed with formula while in the Hospital unless a mother cannot nurse or has expressed a desire not to nurse.
“As a clinician, I recognize first-hand the positive health benefits breastfeeding provides to both mom and baby,” said Sherry Guchardi, Clinical Coordinator, Maternal Child Program. “At Stevenson, we feel passionately that proper support is a key ingredient to ensuring new moms feel comfortable when breastfeeding, and as long as they are able, can continue to do so after they leave the hospital.”
Since the birthing unit re-opened, the Hospital has delivered 500 new babies. Statistics on new moms who delivered at Stevenson between April 2009 and March 2010 revealed that upon discharge, almost 80 per cent were exclusively breastfeeding, while seven per cent were breastfeeding in combination with formula supplement. Thirteen per cent of mothers chose to formula feed immediately following birth.
Proper support and education is important to successful breastfeeding long-term. Upon discharge, moms are encouraged to return within 48 hours to the Maternal Child Program at SMH for a follow up to obtain additional support and education on how to properly breastfeed. In addition, the nursing staff can assist moms in identifying issues that may be leading to a poor breastfeeding experience, including babies who won’t latch, blocked milk ducts, thrush and cracked, painful nipples.
The benefits of breastfeeding include more robust immune system, less chance of asthma, gastrointestinal and ear infections, and less prone to childhood diabetes and sudden infant death syndrome.
“New moms are inundated with information about how breastfeeding is the best nutrition for their babies,” said Lorrie Reynolds, Director, Maternal Child Program at Stevenson. “Our team is dedicated to ensuring new moms and their partners feel confident while breastfeeding and are armed with the proper tools and support for a successful breastfeeding experience”.
The Maternal Child Program has identified breastfeeding education as a top focus over the next year. The Hospital is hopeful that, with increased breastfeeding support and education, the rate of mothers who exclusively breastfeed while at Stevenson will continue to increase.
For more information about Stevenson Memorial Hospital, please visit www.smhosp.on.ca.
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