Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center Celebrates Breastfeeding Awareness Month

Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC) is celebrating National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, a month dedicated to advancing advocacy, protection and promotion of breastfeeding. We know that breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition and immune system protection for infants, however, it also has numerous benefits for mothers, including reducing their risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It is important to know that breastfeeding is not easy for everyone. A study investigating the challenges of breastfeeding found that around 70.3% of mothers experienced breastfeeding difficulties, reporting cracked nipples, perception of insufficient amount of milk, pain, and fatigue. For those experiencing these challenges, early intervention and support is vital to helping them to breastfeed successfully. The Women and Children’s Center at PVHMC ensures individualized breastfeeding support for all mothers and their families, regardless of where their child was born.

Mothers who breastfeed can find latching difficult with newborns and infants. After delivery, through training and guidance, our lactation consultants provide support for both a mother and infant. Mother/child bonding is an important part of early childhood development and bottle feeding should be avoided in initial stages of feeding, as infants can refuse breastfeeding with preference for the bottle and lose crucial bonding opportunities with a mother.

After mothers are discharged home, our lactation center is available to provide breastfeeding and latching assistance, milk production and breast pump rentals. Mothers with any questions or concerns can be reassured their infant will be cared for by professionals, will be provided necessary care.

Another related issue, postpartum depression, can be challenging to new families, and like breastfeeding, can be hard to manage and require professional help. Our pregnancy and postpartum support group provides pregnant and new moms coping skills, relaxation techniques, emotional support and discussion groups to manage anxiety, depression, and adjusting difficulties.

PVHMC’s Women’s and Children’s Center provides advanced care and services including obstetrics, prenatal and neonatal support, for infants, mothers, and families. Virtual breastfeeding, baby care, and childbirth preparation classes are offered as well. To register, click here. For more information, please call our Family Education and Resource Center at 909.865.9858 or email ferc@pvhmc.org.