Lactation Education, Support Key to Sustaining Breastfeeding

Mills-Peninsula Health Services has successfully developed a comprehensive breastfeeding education and support program that has significantly increased the number of women still breastfeeding six months after giving birth. Thanks to improved education and support, 68 percent of women who gave birth at Mills-Peninsula and began breastfeeding before going home are still breastfeeding six months later, surpassing the Healthy People 2010 goals by 18 percent, six years ahead of schedule. The Healthy People 2010 goal is 50 percent.

"Mothers surveyed before and after our new program was implemented revealed that education and support service improvements have resulted in a dramatic increase in mothers who nursed six months after giving birth," David Lee, M.D., neonatologist at Mills-Peninsula's Family Birth Center, said.

"Initially, breastfeeding rates were as high as 95 percent upon discharge. However, many women complained that breastfeeding information they received was inconsistent, so breastfeeding rates after six months fell 69 percent."

Dr. Lee and Mills-Peninsula's Family Birth Center staff have developed and implemented a comprehensive program to provide more consistent breastfeeding information and support.

Since launching the new program, Mills-Peninsula's six-month postpartum breastfeeding rate has jumped to 68 percent compared to 26 percent in 1998.

"We have learned that breastfeeding success is directly related to the amount of education and support women receive," Dr. Lee said.

"While the benefits of breastfeeding are widely reported, they are largely unknown," Mary Costa, RN, director of the Family Birth Center, said. "In fact, it is surprising how many women have misinformation or outdated information."

"What's unique about our program is that all of our patients are visited by a lactation consultant each day of their stay. Equally noteworthy is that our nursing staff also are specially trained to reinforce best breastfeeding practices and techniques. Consequently, moms get a much needed boost of support and encouragement, which further bolsters nursing rates."

"Many of our moms are reluctant to continue breastfeeding after returning to work," said Sheila Janakos, certified lactation consultant who also leads a number of onsite support groups.

"However, once consistent nursing starts, moms are more inclined to continue nursing for at least six months or longer when they've had an opportunity to meet and talk with other working mothers who still nurse. Support groups also provide an opportunity for new moms to learn about new state laws that also support nursing mothers at work."

"Our comprehensive, in-hospital breastfeeding education and support program garners results that matter," Costa added. "We have seen a significant increase in patient satisfaction. That's terrific."

For more information about Mills-Peninsula's lactation education and support program, visit http://www.mills-peninsula.org

About Mills-Peninsula Health Services

Mills-Peninsula Health Services, comprised of Mills Health Center, San Mateo, and Peninsula Medical Center, Burlingame, is part of Sutter Health, one of the nation's leading not-for-profit networks of community-based health care providers, delivering high quality care in more than 100 Northern California communities. Sutter Health supports more than two dozen locally run acute care hospitals and physician organizations, medical research facilities, physician and nurse education programs, and region-wide home health, hospice and occupational health services.