Breastfeeding Support
Breastmilk is the right food for your baby! It is plentiful, comes at the right time in the right composition, at the right temperature, and is always right at hand. At the Madison Birth Center, we believe that women and babies are meant to breastfeed. We offer education to our clients in breastfeeding during prenatal visits and offer classes in breastfeeding to Madison Birth Center clients and the public.
We believe that the optimal start to breastfeeding comes through natural birth and a peaceful and undisturbed time following the birth, with lots of time with baby and mom skin-to-skin (bare chests touching).
While many women successfully breastfeed without difficulty, we also know that new moms and babies, or moms with new babies, take time to learn how to best breastfeed. Midwives and Lactation Consultants and Counselors offer continual support through this process, including visits devoted entirely to breastfeeding should the need arise and 24-7 on-call availability. We believe that you CAN breastfeed, and do our utmost to assist you to achieve your goals.
Great Start Breastfeeding Class
Taught by Nichole Baumbauch, CLC
Breastfeeding is a learned art for many mothers. In the past, breastfeeding skills were passed on by family members. Since many of our mothers and female relatives have not breastfed, women often need extra help with breastfeeding. This class focuses on getting off to a great start with comfortable latch, understanding nursing positions and infant feeding cues. The class also covers nutrition for breastfeeding, hand expression and common concerns such as infant growth spurts.
Lactation Consultations
Private lactation consultations are available seven days a week, in your home or at the birth center, with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant or Certified Lactation Counselor. This service is available to all breastfeeding women.
The Madison Birth Center is a Breastfeeding Friendly Environment.
Any woman in need of a place to nurse or pump can drop in during office hours and utilize our space to meet their needs. This can be pumping on a break, on a time out from your baby, or nursing your baby.
Milk Association of Wisconsin Milk Depot
Madison Birth Center has been chosen as a collection site for donated human milk. Mothers who have passed an initial screening by the Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes and have a donor number may drop off their milk at the birth center. Any labs needed can be drawn during the milk donation visit. Donated milk is shipped once a month to Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes in Columbus, Ohio, where it is pasteurized, tested and bottled. Information about becoming a milk donor is available at Madison Birth Center or through the Mother’s Milk Association of Wisconsin.
Human Donor Milk
There are occasions when a baby may need “supplemental” food before mother’s milk is plentiful. The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends human donor milk when mother’s own milk is not available. Human donor milk from the Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes is available at the birth center if this need arises.