Danbury Hospital Excels In Promoting Breastfeeding

DANBURY — When Laura Kaddis, an elementary school principal in Danbury, found that breastfeeding her daughter was not going smoothly, she turned to Danbury Hospital’s Family Birth Center for help.

There, she found the expertise and personalized support she needed to make the process go better. While most mothers find breastfeeding natural and easy, some women have trouble, according to experts. In Ms Kaddis’s case, her infant, Mary, was not easily latching on, and a yeast infection after a C-section made the process painful.

 “I was determined to do it,” said Ms Kaddis of Weston. “I knew how good it was for the baby and for me.”

She was right about that.

Statistics show that breastfeeding is better for both mother and baby, according to Eitan Kilchevsky, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, medical director, Center for Breastfeeding. Not only does it help prevent infections, intestinal diseases, and allergies, it also gives children a defense against diseases such as heart disease and obesity throughout their lives, he said.

“Even the most advanced baby formula is light years away from being as complete as breast milk,” Dr Kilchevsky added.

 “Breast milk is the perfect nutrition for baby,” according to Kathy Moonan, RN C, BSN, MS, IBCLC, coordinator of lactation consultants at Danbury Hospital. The sign on her door, says it all: “Babies are born to be breast fed.”

Ms Moonan is one of three lactation consultants who meet with mothers before they leave the hospital, and are available to women after discharge. The consultants, who are registered nurses, are certified by the International Board Certified Lactation Consultants

While Danbury Hospital is one of a handful of hospitals that have on-site lactation specialists, the investment is paying off. The hospital exceeds the national average for women who breastfeed, according to Dr Kilchevsky.

The Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition says the state is close to meeting the US Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People breastfeeding objectives by having 75 percent of women breastfeeding by the year 2010.

Danbury Hospital, however, is already at 80 percent of its mothers breastfeeding after delivery. This is the highest rate in the country, according to Dr Kilchevsky, who attributes this success to the hospital’s educational program and the caring of a committed nursing staff and skilled lactation consultants who meet with mothers.

Ms Kaddis recalled contacting these specialists long after she was home with her daughter, and coming to the hospital for follow-up education and support. “The lactation consultants gave me some tricks and ways to deal with things,” she said.

Mary was eventually able to breastfeed and weaned herself at seven months. Now, Ms Kaddis is preparing for the birth of her second child, and plans to breastfeed again, with the help of Danbury Hospital’s Center for Breastfeeding.

The lactation consultants are available to all Danbury Hospital mothers. In addition, the hospital provides a phone line for breastfeeding support, and offers monthly prenatal breastfeeding classes and facilitates a new mothers group.

Fielding about 150 calls a month, Ms Moonan says the service has taken calls from moms as far away as Atlanta. A woman had a baby at Danbury Hospital, moved to Atlanta, and called from her new home, according to Ms Moonan.

Many mothers who have delivered in other hospitals found the lactation service at the Danbury Hospital Center for Breastfeeding extremely informative and helpful.

One of the biggest drawbacks of breastfeeding, Ms Moonan said, is that women have to return to work and do not feel that they can handle it all.

“We’re here to help them understand that they don’t have to feel overwhelmed, and it can work, if they want it to.” Family support in such cases is also of utmost importance.

Since the arrival of Dr Kilchevsky at Danbury Hospital nine years ago, the breastfeeding program has shown continued success and growth. The program even works with a mother’s physician to make sure that breastfeeding goes as it should. Following the visit to the Center for Breastfeeding, a note is sent to the primary care physician with an explanation of the intervention plan.

The program prides itself on being available for help and support to any mother who is breastfeeding. “We want to make sure that all women have the right information to make the right choices, and we’re here to support their choices, after making sure they are given the appropriate information,” said Dr Kilchevsky. For more information, visit www.danburyhospital.org or call 739-7777.