Breastfeeding Support at Mills-Peninsula

Mills-Peninsula is proud to be a Baby-Friendly Hospital, as designated by the World Health Organization and UNICEF. For most new mothers and their babies, breastfeeding is a rewarding and beneficial experience. Numerous studies indicate that breastfed infants tend to experience fewer illnesses, are less likely to develop allergies and have a lower incidence of diabetes than their bottle-fed counterparts. Plus breastfeeding is less expensive and often more convenient than bottle-feeding.

Most new mothers, however, have many questions or even doubts about breastfeeding. At Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, our family birth center offers an encouraging, supportive and informative environment in which to learn about breastfeeding. We have a team of international, board-certified lactation consultants who are available on a daily basis to offer advice, counseling and training in all aspects of breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding Your Newborn

This class provides instruction on breastfeeding techniques as well as encouragement and support for a woman’s choice to provide breast milk for her baby. Topics include milk production, positioning and attachment techniques and prevention and relief of common problems. Establishing milk supply and providing breast milk for a baby who is not yet able to breastfeed is also discussed. Fathers and special support persons are also encouraged to attend. Registration is required. Fee: $50.00 per couple. One, 2.5 hour class. Held several times a month on the second Thursday, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm.

Breastfeeding Support Group

The Family Birth Center offers two free, weekly breastfeeding support groups offered every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm in the Family Birthplace Center Conference room on the 2nd floor of the hospital. These groups are facilitated by a Family Birth Center nurse and Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant(IBCLC) and is a great way to have your breastfeeding questions answered and meet other parents and babies. Partners and grandmothers welcome! For questions about the breastfeeding group, please call (650) 696-5874.

Breast Pump Rental Program

Medela Symphony hospital-grade breast pumps are available for rental in our gift shop located on the 1st floor of the Mills-Peninsula Medical Center Clinic Building. We also offer a wide range of Medela products and more. We offer weekly, monthly, 3 and 6 month options. For more information, email mpmcbreastpump@sutterhealth.org or call (650) 696-5818.

A Baby-Friendly Hospital

At Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, our medical professionals are dedicated to implementing practices that protect, promote and support breastfeeding. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is a worldwide breastfeeding quality improvement project created by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund. Our family birth center upholds the project’s “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” guidelines, which were published in a joint statement by the two humanitarian organizations, called “Protecting, Promoting and Supporting Breastfeeding: The Special Role of Maternity Services.”

Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding:

• Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all healthcare staff.
• Train all healthcare staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
• Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
• Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
• Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants.
• Give infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated.
• Practice rooming in — allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
• Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
• Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants.
• Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or birth center.