University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center now has outpatient lactation clinic

May 30—New mothers in the Geauga County area have an additional resource close to home to help nurture their newborn at The Center for Women's Health at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center.

An outpatient lactation clinic opened earlier in May, offering advanced care to support positive breastfeeding outcomes and mother-baby bonding during the newborn phase and postpartum period, according to a news release.

"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," Dr. Dominic Sanniti, chair of the Department of Medicine at UH Geauga Medical Center, stated in the release. "At the new lactation clinic, moms will get access to critical resources to ensure their baby stays healthy."

The clinic is open weekdays 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," lactation coordinator Jamie Goebel stated in the release. "With enhanced support during the early challenges, mothers and babies are able to breastfeed exclusively and longer."

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.

UH Geauga's labor and delivery services are growing as well. Last year more than 1,200 babies were delivered, according to the release.

UH Geauga is located at 13207 Ravenna Road in Chardon.