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    World Breastfeeding Week

    World Breastfeeding Week

    Photo By Jason Bortz | The entire staff of Naval Hospital Pensacola's Women and Children Department is...... read more read more

    PENSACOLA, FL, UNITED STATES

    07.29.2015

    Courtesy Story

    NMRTC Pensacola

    By Kelly Trout
    lactation consultant, Naval Hospital Pensacola

    PENSACOLA, Fla. - World Breastfeeding Week is held every year from Aug. 1 through Aug. 7, and this year’s theme is “Breastfeeding and Work. Let’s Make it Work!”

    Breastfeeding supporters all over the world are striving to support women in combining breastfeeding with work; whether in the formal sector, non-formal sector or at home. I would like to discuss some of the ways we are working toward this goal.

    Naval Hospital Pensacola has one of the highest exclusive breastfeeding rates within the Department of Defense. Our staff have decades of collective experience in empowering moms to breastfeed their babies. We focus on the importance of breastfeeding and education of our beneficiaries. Human milk provides virtually all the protein, sugar and fat babies need to be healthy. It also contains many substances that benefit the baby’s immune system, including antibodies, immune factors, enzymes and white blood cells. These substances protect babies against a wide variety of diseases and infections not only while breastfeeding, but in some cases long after they have weaned.

    To help promote breastfeeding, we don’t supplement formula at NHP for breastfeeding mothers unless there is a medical indication, a policy clearly defined within our hospital’s policy. Pacifiers are not provided here as they can lead to breastfeeding difficulties and are discouraged during the early weeks of breastfeeding. The use of breastfeeding tools, such as nipple shields, is reserved specifically for the 5-10 percent of families with a medical need. Following these guidelines, we are able to support mothers to establish a plentiful milk supply that can enable them to continue their breastfeeding relationship for as long as desired.

    Regardless of the choice, NHP supports parents in their decision on how to feed their baby. If parents decide they do not want to breastfeed, the staff here will support their decision and assist them by any means possible.

    Breastfeeding can be difficult and frustrating at times, especially for first time mothers. Fortunately, mothers have a variety of resources they can use to continue to receive support for breastfeeding even after they leave the hospital. Babies are seen in the outpatient setting within a couple of days of discharge, and moms are provided emotional support, lactation advice and assistance from an international board certified lactation consultant. Multiple other resources are also available, including home visits from the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society nurse, the New Parent Support Program, the local La Leche League group, peer counselors at Women, Infants and Children (WIC) offices and the Medical Homeport Teams at NHP.

    Breast pumps are often a vital tool needed for breastfeeding, and TRICARE is now providing reimbursement for the purchase of electric or manual breast pumps. TRICARE is also providing reimbursements for any pump purchased after Dec. 19, 2014. Beneficiaries will need a copy of their prescription from their provider and a copy of the receipt. There are two options for filing for reimbursement through TRICARE. The first is to file a claim on the TRICARE website, www.TRICARE.COM, or beneficiaries may visit the Health Benefits Office within the hospital, which will assist with filing the claim.

    To kick off World Breastfeeding Week this year in Pensacola, there will be a “Global Latch On” Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the Northridge Church in Pensacola. The event is open to everyone, and I will personally be there to lend my support. I encourage everyone to come out and be part of our local breastfeeding community.

    For more information or questions on breastfeeding, please call me at 505-7109.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 07.29.2015
    Date Posted: 07.29.2015 15:18
    Story ID: 171469
    Location: PENSACOLA, FL, US

    Web Views: 196
    Downloads: 1

    PUBLIC DOMAIN