Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital officials are celebrating Breastfeeding Awareness Week by talking about their lactation consulting services for new moms both in-hospital and through an outpatient office.

“We help moms breastfeed their babies, so whenever they need help, we’re there to help them and encourage them,” said Shannon Kliewer, a lactation consultant at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital.

While lactation consultants are available to help moms who have just given birth and are still admitted in the hospital, one-on-one outpatient appointments are also available for those new moms who need a little extra support.

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“We do pre- and post-feeding weights, we have you fill out a questionnaire, we see kind of what’s going on with you and baby and then we’ll give you a lactation plan to leave with,” Kliewer said. “Some moms need different help, and we tailor our visits to what’s going on in your world.”

Choosing to breastfeed a child offers a number of benefits not only for the baby, but also for the mother, the family and the environment, according to Kliewer.

For babies, breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of allergies, ear infections, asthma, diabetes and childhood cancer, she noted, while moms who breastfeed have less risk of diabetes, cervical cancer and ovarian cancer, and mothers typically return to pre-pregnancy size faster.

Breastfeeding also saves families money on formula and doctor’s visits, and benefits the environment by reducing fossil fuels associated with formula production and packaging waste.

Support groups are available through Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital for new mothers who are breastfeeding, and the hospital also acts as one of just two human milk drop-off depots in Los Angeles County.

“It is a place where moms who produce or overproduce or have extra breast milk, or maybe their babies pass away and they still want to pump to help with the healing process, they are able to come to Henry Mayo and drop off their milk with us,” Kliewer said, adding that there is an application process required.

“It’s a really easy process and it costs nothing for the moms to do,” Kliewer continued, noting interested moms can call the office at 661-200-1515 for more information. “We’ll even meet you at your car when you drop off.”

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital is a 238-bed, not-for-profit community hospital and trauma center in Santa Clarita. The Henry Mayo Hospital emergency department is open 24-7 to provide critical life-saving services, with a panel of physicians available around the clock for critical healthcare needs. In addition, a number of specialized care services are also available, including a maternity department, community hospital cancer program, advanced primary stroke center, spine and joint program, acute rehab unit, cardiology services, outpatient wound care, physical and occupational therapies and a wide range of surgical services.

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

23845 McBean Parkway

Valencia, CA 91355

661-253-8000

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, Valencia

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