Fort HealthCare Offers Free Monthly Breastfeeding Support Group

JEFFERSON COUNTY – The American Academy of Pediatrics urges new moms to breastfeed their babies exclusively for the first six months of life and to continue nursing at least until baby’s first birthday. For many mothers, breastfeeding and the early postpartum time period can pose some challenges, both physically and emotionally. To help mothers learn and establish good breastfeeding practices and to be surrounded by other women in a similar situation, Fort HealthCare hosts a monthly Breastfeeding Support Group. Gatherings take place on the last Thursday of every month from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the OB Classroom at Fort Memorial Hospital in Fort Atkinson – and babies are welcome!

Breastfeeding offers crucial health benefits for a baby. It supplies food, comfort and love. Experts agree that breastfeeding is the healthiest choice for babies during the first year of life and beyond. The physicians, nurses and lactation consultants at the Fort Memorial Hospital Great Expectations Birthing Center work together with families during the first hours of a baby’s life to establish infant feeding and a bond between mother and baby.

Encouraging an early bond provides many benefits. Babies who bond early have been noted to have fewer crying episodes, have a higher level of quiet sleep, begin a normal sleep pattern more easily, and are ready for interaction when picked up from the crib.

Promoting the best breastfeeding practices are just one component of Fort Memorial Hospital’s initiative to become a “Baby-Friendly” accredited facility. Becoming Baby-Friendly is a multi-year project intended to educate new mothers and get children on the right path from birth, as breastfeeding is considered to be a good way of reducing the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, some cancers, allergies and more. 

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is a global program that was launched by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund in 1991 to encourage and recognize hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for infant feeding and bonding between mother and baby. For more information, visit BabyFriendlyUSA.org.

The providers at the Fort HealthCare Center for Women’s Health and at area Family Practice clinics that offer obstetric services are dedicated to providing exceptional care for women through education, prevention, wellness and intervention. These experienced physicians, nurses, physicians’ assistants and other care providers are committed to exceeding patients’ expectations for service, access, efficiency and trust. For more information about having a healthy baby with Fort HealthCare, visit FortHealthCare.com/Baby.

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