Milford Regional Recognized for Excellence in Lactation Care
Milford Regional Medical Center has received international recognition for its lactation program and the highly-trained team of maternity nurses that help protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
Milford Regional received the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® Care Award from the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners ®(IBLCE®) and the International Lactation Consultant Association® (ICLA®).
The award recognizes Milford Regional for its seven maternity nurses who hold the International Board Certified Lactation Consultants® certification (IBCLC®), as well as the lactation program offered on a nearly daily basis for breast-feeding families.
There are currently 27,450 IBCLC professionals in 101 countries.
“This award speaks volumes about our team of lactation consultants who are dedicated to the patients who choose to breastfeed. These nurses also educate and support those patients - both on an inpatient and outpatient basis - to help them achieve that goal,” said Rose Galimi-Hayes, director of maternity and pediatrics at Milford Regional.
The IBCLC is the leading internationally recognized lactation certification in the world. Certified professionals are highly skilled in helping breastfeeding mothers, and they work with mothers during pregnancy to help successfully initiate breastfeeding. After the child is born, the certified nurses continue to help mothers overcome breastfeeding challenges, and continue to inform and support them as their baby grows. In addition, they assist mothers returning to work or school; help mothers in more unusual situations such as breastfeeding more than one baby at a time, or nursing a sick or premature infant; and help train the nursing staff to manage basic breastfeeding care.
The maternity department supported a lactation consultant student whose work and experience with the Milford-based team and patients not only helped her receive her certification, but gained the hospital international recognition.
“Facilities that receive the IBCLC Care Award are to be commended for improving maternal and child health by making breastfeeding a priority and for taking steps to improve breastfeed support,” said Tomoko Seo, chair of the IBLCE. “An important part of providing excellent breastfeeding care is having expert assistance available when the breastfeeding couple needs it.”
With breastfeeding rates on the rise, there is also a need for trained lactation professionals.
“Breastfeeding is natural and often works quite well without intervention, but there can be complications or risk factors and mothers may need extra support,” said Decalie Brown, president of ICLA. “This recognition highlights the efforts being made by maternity facilities all across the world to help mothers get off to a good start with breastfeeding and to support them in reaching their goals.”
The team of maternity nurses who hold the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant certification. From left to right: Susan DiMario, Amanda Barry, Kimberly Sullivan, Julie Naya, Laura Fantini, Sharon Pellerin & Tracy Gorham
