Hospitals in Action >> Case Examples

STORMONT-VAIL HEALTHCARE, Topkea, KS
Birthplace Breastfeeding Clinic

What is it?
The breastfeeding and follow up clinic at Stormont-Vail HealthCare began in 1996.  The clinic is free for moms who deliver at Stormont-Vail, but is also available to all moms in the community at little or no cost (a one time fee of $25.00 is charged to those who can afford it).  Four staff members make rounds on all nursing mothers, hold open clinics for outpatients, and provide follow-up visits for newly discharged families.  Our patients come from a wide variety of socioeconomic and ethnic/cultural backgrounds.  The program was listed by the Department of Health and Human Services as a model program.  In 2006, the clinic held 6374 breastfeeding visits, made 773 follow-up phone calls, held 1133 follow up visits in the clinic and made 3241 rounds in the Birthplace.  Our county has one of the highest rates of breastfeeding among WIC participants and we believe that our clinic has made a strong impact on this rate.  The breastfeeding clinic is funded by the hospital as part of the Birthplace Department. 

Who is it for?
All breastfeeding women in the community may attend the clinic.

Why do they do it?
The program was begun in response to the scientific evidence that children who are formula feed demonstrate higher rates of hospitalization, respiratory tract infections, otitis media, diarrhea, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, necrotizing enterocolitis, and invasive bacterial infections.  Breastfeeding moms show a reduction in postpartum bleeding, reduced risk of ovarian cancer and premenopausal breast cancer as well as an earlier return to pre-pregnancy weight.  At the inception of the program, about 50% of new mothers were breastfeeding and that has risen to 70-80%.

Contact: Carol Wheeler RN BSN FACHE
785-354-6115
cwheeler@stormontvail.org