Laura Mize, registered nurse, international board-certified lactation consultant at CHOC Children’s
Each year, World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in early August to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding. This year’s theme, “Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding” was chosen to be inclusive of all types of parents in today’s world. Breastfeeding is a team effort and involves more than just the baby’s mom.
Here at CHOC, we want to help empower parents and enable breastfeeding by providing support if your child is in the hospital. We understand that having a child in the hospital is stressful, and we know that our pumping and breastfeeding moms may need extra support during this time. Your baby’s bedside nurse and the lactation team will work together to help your family achieve feeding goals.
The mom’s support person is an important part of the team too! Helping mom takes many forms and families come in many different varieties. The mom’s support person may be the baby’s dad or mom’s partner, or it may be a friend or family member. The support person has a unique role that provides needed help to mom and increases the support person’s bond with the baby. The CHOC team provides education and guidance for mom and her support person.
Here are some examples of how the support person can help on a day-to-day basis:
- Skin-to-Skin with baby is not just for moms! The support person can also do skin-to-skin, as tolerated by baby. Ask your nurse for details.
- Diaper changes and temperature taking at care time if it is ok with baby’s bedside nurse.
- Serve as a gatekeeper for family and friends. Everyone wants to know how baby is doing! The support person can provide updates and guide family and friends that want to help.
- Help mom by keeping track of when it is time to pump or breastfeed.
- Make sure the pumping/breastfeeding mom is getting proper hydration and nutrition. Ask your bedside nurse about meals available for pumping and breastfeeding moms.
- Getting mom and baby into breastfeeding position can feel awkward and challenging at first. The support person can help guide mom and baby. CHOC lactation consultants can teach you what you can to do to help.
- Wash pump parts so they will be clean and ready for next pump session.
- Love the baby! Babies can never have too much love.
The support person plays a valuable and important role that benefits both mom and baby. Please ask your bedside nurse what you can do to support mom and baby during their hospitalization.
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Learn more about CHOC’s Clinical Nutrition Program
At CHOC, we specialize in providing a full continuum of pediatric nutrition services, including inpatient and outpatient services, depending on our patients’ needs.
