New Lactation Clinic Opens at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center

CHARDON, Ohio – New mothers have an additional resource close to home to help nurture their newborn at The Center for Women's Health at University Hospitals (UH) Geauga Medical Center, a campus of UH Regional Hospitals. This month, an outpatient lactation clinic opened offering advanced care to support positive breastfeeding outcomes and mother-baby bonding during the whirlwind newborn phase and postpartum period.

"New mothers receive exceptional care in the hospital but once they arrive home it’s daunting to breastfeed without continued guidance and breastfeeding can decline as a result,” said Dominic Sanniti, MD, chair of the Department of Medicine at UH Geauga Medical Center. “At the new lactation clinic, moms will get access to critical resources to ensure their baby stays healthy.”

The clinic is open Monday and Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers consultations, in addition to a specialized scale to show mothers how much breastmilk their babies are consuming.

“By helping our mothers in the early stages of breastfeeding, we can promote better health outcomes for them and their children for the rest of their lives,” said Jamie Goebel, the lactation coordinator for the clinic. “With enhanced support during the early challenges, mothers and babies are able to breastfeed exclusively and longer.”

Breastfeeding benefits both mother and baby. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention infants who are breastfed have reduced risk of SIDS, obesity, asthma and respiratory infections. It also lowers the risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, breast and ovarian cancer in mothers.

“Our lactation consultants provide ongoing guidance and support for moms, assess pain and discomfort, help with any latch issues, and monitor baby weight, all while increasing confidence in breastfeeding,” says Ashley Giel, CPNP-AC, pediatrics, neonatology at UH Geauga Medical Center.

The community hospital offers outstanding care in Geauga County and is familiar with cultural sensitivities and unique genetic issues that impact the large Amish population served. UH Geauga's labor and delivery services are growing as well. Last year more than 1,200 babies were delivered.