Kansas City, Mo.– The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding (with the exception of vitamin and mineral supplements or medications) for about the first six months of infancy, with continued breastfeeding, along with the introduction of iron-rich foods, for at least the first year of an infant’s life.
Although approximately 80 percent of US Women say before they deliver they intend to breastfeed (75 percent actually begin breastfeeding), after only one week, half of these moms have already given their infant formula, and only 31 percent breastfeed to any extent at 9 months.
These numbers indicate that breast feeding can be quite challenging. Milk supply and infections are among a host of issues moms may have to navigate. The Birthing Center at St. Joseph Medical Center has seen rapid growth in the number of women attending its weekly breast feeding support group.
“We’ve gone from meeting in empty patient rooms to a full conference room very quickly,” says Barbara Kellerman, RN, a certified lactation consultant who runs the support group that meets every Monday.
New mom, Tricia Rosha believes she wouldn’t be breast feeding without the group. “It’s not as easy as it looks”, says Rosha. Even a more experienced mother, Evalina Dominerese found benefits she did not have with an earlier child. “As much as you can read about this subject, doesn’t compare to what this group brings”, says Dominerese. All agree it is a good way for new moms to meet other new moms.
The breast feeding support group through the Birthing Center at St. Joseph Medical Center is open to women delivering at the Birthing Center. It meets each Monday from 11a.m. – 12 p.m. on the campus at I-435 and State Line Road. For more information, contact the Lactation Office at 816-943-2027.
St. Joseph Medical Center is a 310-bed facility providing a wide range of acute care and outpatient services from a 24-hour emergency department to state-of-the-art cardiovascular care. St. Joseph has earned the Magnet designation from The American Nurses Credentialing Center for excellence in nursing services. The accredited Stroke Center at St. Joseph provides advanced treatments available at few centers in the Kansas City area and the Breast Center is a nationally recognized leader in breast MRI biopsy. Visit St. Joseph on the Web at stjosephkc.com.