WHAT DO cabbage leaves have to do with breast feeding?
If you are a mother who has ever breast fed her babies and spent any time in the parenting center at Newman Regional Health, you probably know the answer.
I sent my husband to the grocery store in pursuit of the miracle leaves one very late night shortly after my third baby, Will, was born. I’ve sent Chris to the store for some strange — even downright embarrassing — items in the past, but cabbage leaves for his wife’s breasts have definitely been the most bizarre so far.
Just a couple days postpartum, I was, should I say, well beyond v-v-voluptuous. But it was nothing for this averagely endowed mom to celebrate. Because I hurt. Really hurt. And Will would not nurse.
I, of course, was panicking, and my 4-day-old baby was losing weight. The combination was not good for either of us.
But after some gentle support and guidance from Gina Slayden, the lactation consultant at the parenting center, she suggested I try cold cabbage leaves. One for each was certain to provide some relief.
And they did! Of course, explaining to my two little girls why Mommy had salad on her chest wasn’t so easy.
My point is, the parenting center in the Women’s Life Center at the hospital has been a tremendous resource for me and many other new moms since its inception in 2002. The lactation consultant for the parenting center has provided support to so many mothers who strive to give their babies the very best start in life.
Despite rumors circulating to the contrary, the hospital has no plans to cut or close its services.
“Nothing has changed in our strategy in the last six months,” said Bob Driewer, CEO of Newman Regional Health. “We are not going to close it immediately or in the long-term future.”
That’s certainly good to know. Because for an institution that promotes health and wellness for “your whole life,” getting those lives started off with the very best resources available is nonnegotiable.
Everyone knows the facts:
• According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, breast milk is the best source of nutrition for babies. Breast milk has disease-fighting antibodies that help protect babies from many illnesses.
• Mothers who breast feed are at a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, breast and ovarian cancer and postpartum depression.
• And in times like these, there’s no more economical way to feed a baby than with breast milk.
But what everyone doesn’t understand is that breast feeding isn’t always easy. In fact, more often than not it can be a tremendous struggle for both mother and baby in those early postpartum weeks. Lack of instruction, support and guidance can be physically and emotionally devastating to many new moms.
That’s where the services of the parenting center, with the only hospital-based lactation consultant on staff in the area, are needed. Through classes, individual breast-feeding appointments and support groups — all at no charge — any new mom can ensure that she has every opportunity to give her baby a strong, healthy start in life.
We all know that businesses everywhere are experiencing financial hardship and even hospitals are not immune. But maintaining services that research has proven over and over to have healthy, lifelong effects on a person only makes good sense.