Baby-friendly designation at Legacy promotes early breastfeeding

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, August 11, 2015

By Scott Keith

LAUREN ROSE

Perhaps no bonding experience is as precious and intimate as that between newborn and mother.

Legacy Health has announced that Legacy Good Samaritan, Legacy Emanuel, Legacy Meridian Park and Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center have been internationally recognized as Baby-Friendly birth facilities by the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund.

The designation comes after the medical facilities completed a four-year multi-step effort to encourage mothers to begin breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and how to sustain it after they go home.

Started in 1991, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, sponsored by the World Health Organization and

UNICEF, is a global program centered on 10 steps a hospital can take to encourage successful breastfeeding. The steps include informing all pregnant woman about the benefits and management of breastfeeding and encouraging breastfeeding on demand

According to Dr. Lauren Rose, medical director of Legacy Family Birth Centers, “Baby-Friendly is a designation that means that the hospital is doing everything that it can to really support the mom and the baby, in terms of successful breast feeding.”

Rose, who is also a pediatric and newborn hospitalist, said early breastfeeding is important.

“The first hour is considered a really critical time in terms of bonding with baby and establishing the breastfeeding connections,” Rose said. “We don’t completely understand how this works, but there seems to be something uniquely special about that first hour of life that helps set up mom’s milk supply and set up a successful breastfeeding relationship.”

Rose said nurses at Legacy Health underwent a “huge amount of education” and one-on-one training to help moms during the first few days after birth.

Hester Carr, perinatal clinical nurse specialist with Legacy Health, said the first hour after birth is “the golden hour.”

Carr added, “They really are wide eyed. They’re moving around. They’re touching mom’s chest — it’s almost like they’re searching for the breast. It’s amazing to watch if you don’t disturb it.”

Carr pointed out there are times when mom and child can’t bond in the first hour. In that case, it’s important to bond as soon as possible.

“That skin-to-skin time is very, very valuable at any point during the early days.”

The goal at the hospitals is long-term breast feeding.

“We learn that if we do support skin-to-skin at delivery, if we do keep moms and babies together, if we do avoid formula supplementation (unless it’s medically necessary), if we do teach moms that giving a pacifier can disturb those early days of learning, then moms will be more successful,” Carr said, adding that even fathers can help.

“We also know that babies that spend time skin-to-skin with their dads also benefit,” Carr said. “The connection with their dad is strengthened.”

Not only is this bonding process important, but the newborn baby also benefits from nutrition.

“We know that breast milk is the best nutrition for babies,” Rose said. “It is the perfect food for infants, especially early in life. It provides antibodies that help protect babies from infection.”

Numerous studies have shown, Rose said, that breast-fed babies have lower rates of infections, such as ear infections and diarrheal illnesses.

According to Legacy Health, other health benefits of breastfeeding include decreased risk of developing asthma or allergies, type 2 diabetes and respiratory illnesses. Breastfeeding can also lead to a reduced risk of obesity.

While breastfeeding rates are high in Portland and the Northwest, “Unfortunately, only about a third of moms are able to achieve their own breastfeeding goals,” Rose said. “As moms leave the hospital, already having that foundation for successful breast feeding, they’re more likely to continue breast feeding for as long as possible.”

Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center is expected to receive the designation later this year.

Rose added, “I think this is really exciting. As an organization, we have really gotten behind the idea that we need to do whatever we can to support moms and babies in terms of successful breastfeeding.”

TIPS ON BREASTFEEDING FROM LEGACY HEALTH

If your baby is sleeping , try unwrapping the blanket, rubbing baby’s back, or changing the diaper.

Helping to latch takes time. Your baby’s mouth may seem small, but he/she can open big enough to latch, when you help your baby to learn how.

Here are some ideas that will help, but remember, your baby needs to be awake.

  • Tickle your baby’s mouth with the tip of your nipple.
  • Baby’s bottom lip needs to get to the breast first. • Watch as your baby begins to tilt his/her head back when getting ready to open big.
  • Bring baby in quickly. Continue to hold your breast until you see that baby is sucking well. It should feel comfortable. If you feel pinching, let baby come off and try again.
  • Once baby is sucking well, and you’re comfortable, relax. Keep an extra wash cloth/roll nearby to help extra support where you need it.
  • Learn to watch for swallowing. The first few days, there are a few swallows. When your baby is 3-5 days old, you will see lots of swallowing. Your breasts will feel fuller, too. Then softer after the feeding.
  • Watch your baby, not the clock. When swallowing slows down, wake and try burping your baby and offer the second side.

    • For a video, go to: breastfeedingmadesimple.com/animatedlatch.html.

    Source: legacyhealth.org/

    havingababy

    Scott Keith is a freelance writer for the Portland Tribune and Pamplin Media Group. If you have a health tip, or a story idea, contact Scott at scottbkeith@yahoo.com.

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