Photo By Marcy Sanchez | A reclining chair, electric outlets, counter space and portraits create a calm and...... read more read more
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William Beaumont Army Medical Center held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its first 24/7 lactation support room located by the main entrance of the hospital, July 5.
The room will support WBAMC's mission for breastfeeding support and is the third dedicated lactation support room in the hospital available for patient, visitor and staff use.
“We are continuing our efforts to pursue full status as a baby-friendly organization,” said Col. John A. Smyrski III, commander, WBAMC. “We are breastfeeding friendly and therefore visitors, patients and staff are free to breastfeed throughout our facilities.”
Recently, WBAMC was recognized by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners and the International Lactation Consultant Association with the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Care award for staffing IBCL consultants. In January, the hospital was also designated as a Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite for its support to breastfeeding employees.
“We continue to work that effort as we provide support for not only our patients but also our staff,” said Smyrski. “The support for Breastfeeding goes beyond this one room into (all of Fort Bliss) where we have WBAMC presence.”
Outside of the main hospital, five outlying clinics are located at Fort Bliss and one in El Paso which all permit breastfeeding along with other WBAMC-ran facilities on post. While breastfeeding moms are welcomed to breastfeed any where on WBAMC campuses, they may use the dedicated lactation support rooms if they prefer a more private location.
Currently, there are two other dedicated lactation support rooms available to visitors, patients and staff located in the hospital’s Women’s Health Clinic and the Mother Baby Unit however, the main entrance lactation support room will be the only one available 24/7 fittingly located by the hospital’s emergency room.
The addition of a third and 24/7 lactation room doesn’t just affect breastfeeding moms but also supports families as a whole.
“All my kids were breastfed. It was diffiult for my wife to find a location where she could breastfeed in private,” said Sgt. 1st Class Glenn Parker, noncommissioned officer in charge, Maternal Child Health Services, WBAMC. “Depending on where we were she had to make sure she could go somewhere or be covered.”
Parker, a father of three, said the addition of a third dedicated and around-the-clock lactation room will also benefit WBAMC staff whom may not have private spaces to pump.
“If you’re coming in and are either a patient, visitor or staff this gives you a secure location to be able to breastfeed or pump,” said Parker, a native of Ketchikan, Alaska. “Breast is best. It provides a lot of nutrients, minerals they don’t get otherwise and antibodies that boost the immune system.”
The room is outfitted with a reclining chair, electric outlets, counter space and portraits creating a calm and inviting atmosphere for those using it.
WBAMC is currently in the dissemination phase of the 4-D Pathway to Baby-Friendly Designation, which concentrates on staff training, data collection and patient education.
| Date Taken: | 07.08.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.08.2016 17:59 |
| Story ID: | 203469 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Hometown: | KETCHIKAN, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 105 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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