The depth of RiverView Health’s Lactation Team increased by three recently when Sunshine Wentzel, Danielle Dufault, and Elizabeth Toupin all became certified lactation specialists (CLS). The three registered nurses were approved in August, National Breastfeeding Month.
Wentzel, Dufault, and Toupin join Sue Palmer, RN, certified lactation counselor (CLC). In October, Palmer marked 35 years with RiverView, which has helped hundreds of women learn the ins and outs of breastfeeding.
“The thing that can make or break someone’s breastfeeding journey is the support you receive immediately following birth,” said Lactation Specialist Sunshine Wentzel, “We are fortunate to be able to offer guidance and resources to our patients so that their journey can be a successful one and they can go home knowing that they’ve got this.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continuing breastfeeding while introducing foods until a child is 12 months or older. Statistics from the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) reveal that among infants born in 2019 (the most recent year of data), 83.2% started out receiving some breast milk; at one month, that percentage dropped to 78.6%, and at six months to 55.8%. At six months, 24.9% of infants were receiving breast milk exclusively.
Wentzel explained that after a baby is born at Riverview, an evaluation is done to determine if a referral for a lactation consultation is needed. During the review, a CLS or CLC talks with the new mom about her history with breastfeeding goals for the baby, determine how feeding went up to that point, and answers questions. The certified team member may evaluate a feeding to see how the baby is latching and if the mother and child look and feel comfortable during the feeding.
To improve the outcome, the CLS or CLC may recommend different positions or holds for the feedings to optimize comfort and milk transfer, all while educating the new parents on feeding cues.
According to Wentzel, some women decide to pump exclusively, in which case, the CLS or CLC gets them set up with a hospital-grade pump to use while at RiverView and ensure they go home with a high-grade pump, whether they purchase it from the RiverView Pharmacy or do it online.
“I would say that a lot of moms breastfeed,” said Wentzel, “There is still a lot of room for growth in educating our patients. I think a lot of patients who decide not to breastfeed don’t have adequate prenatal education on it, and therefore, they don’t pursue it. But, even if a mom is on the fence about breastfeeding, we try to provide them with enough information and answer any questions they have so that they can make the best decision for themselves and their baby.”
Soon, Wentzel and the team plan to implement more prenatal breastfeeding education and evaluations for patients in the clinic setting before their delivery.
For more information on breastfeeding, contact a member of the Lactation Team at 218-281-9300.
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