January 15, 2010

SRMC Nurse Earns Certified Lactation Consultant Status

Sumner Regional Medical Center now has two International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) providing breastfeeding management and care services to new moms at the hospital.  SRMC Women’s Services nurse Christina Perez has joined SRMC Lactation Consultant Jennifer Layman to educate expectant parents and new mothers about the benefits and experience of breastfeeding. 

 

SRMC’s Women’s Services unit established a devoted breastfeeding services program to educate, encourage and assist new and expectant mothers with breastfeeding in February of 2008.  As the hospital’s dedicated lactation consultants, Layman and Perez provide prenatal breastfeeding classes, prenatal consultations with expectant mothers, one-on-one consultations with new mothers during their postpartum stay at SRMC and follow-up consultations once new moms have left the hospital. They also assist patients with physician referrals, infant weight checks, feeding assessments and breast pump rentals and purchases.

 

“We are so pleased to now have two certified lactation consultants on staff to educate expectant mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding and to assist new mothers as they learn to breastfeed,” said SRMC’s Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Clinical Services, Anne Melton, RN, MSN.  “Each of our Women’s Services unit nurses are trained to assist families with breastfeeding successfully, but there are times when patients need more extensive assistance. That’s where our lactation consultants come in.”

 

“Since we started the program in 2008, our patients have found it to be extremely helpful and have appreciated the expert assistance our lactation consultant has provided,” added Melton. “Having two certified lactation consultants on staff means we’ll be able to provide breastfeeding education and assistance to even more women in our community through this valuable program.”

 

What is an IBCLC?
The International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) credential identifies a knowledgeable and experienced member of the maternal-child health team who has specialized skills in breastfeeding management and care.


IBCLCs have passed a rigorous examination that demonstrates the ability to provide competent, comprehensive lactation and breastfeeding care. Attainment of the IBCLC credential signifies that the practitioner has demonstrated competence to:

  • Work together with mothers to prevent and solve breastfeeding problems
  • Collaborate with other members of the health care team to provide comprehensive care that supports, protects and promotes breastfeeding
  • Encourage a social environment that supports breastfeeding families
  • Educate families, health professionals and policy makers about the far-reaching and long-lasting value of breastfeeding as a global public health imperative.
    • Perez took the six-hour exam during July of 2009 and learned in October that she had passed the course to earn the IBCLC status.

    “Earning this certification was very rewarding,” said Perez. “I had five children of my own that I breastfed to a year each, so I had the personal experience that helped me to be in tune with what the mother's were saying at SRMC. I really enjoy my time with the mothers, helping them to be able to provide good nutrition for their babies as well as to enjoy the rewarding bonding experience of breastfeeding.”


    For more information about SRMC’s Sumner Breastfeeding Services program, call (615) 328-4123.


    About Sumner Regional Medical Center

    Sumner Regional Medical Center, an affiliate of Sumner Regional Health Systems, is a progressive, 155-bed acute care facility in Gallatin, Tenn. The hospital offers a full range of diagnostic, surgical, therapeutic, women’s and rehabilitative services. SRMC has served Sumner County for 50 years. For information about services or physicians, visit www.sumner.org.

     

     

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