Explore Obstetrics & Gynecology Lactation Consultation
Around the Cock Breastfeeding Support
UConn Health is proud to offer breastfeeding support around the clock. We have a full-time, internationally board-certified lactation consultant on staff, as well as nurses trained in lactation support and certified as lactation counselors who are dedicated to helping mothers reach their breastfeeding goals.
Before Your Stay: Prepare by exploring prenatal education, including lactation consults and breastfeeding class.
During Your Stay: Lactation consults are available from an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBLC) on site as well as supplemental support from our nurses who are Certified Lactation Counselors.
Breast Pumps
While you are a patient on our labor and delivery floor, hospital grade double electric breast pumps are available for your use. A nurse will go over detailed instructions on how to use the pumps and will answer all your questions.
A prescription to order a breast pump through your insurance can be submitted, and the breast pump can be delivered to your home.
Breastfeeding Classes
View Our Breastfeeding Class Schedule or Sign up for a Class.We offer a monthly prenatal breastfeeding class covering topics such as: benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby; how breast milk is made; how a supply is established and maintained; positioning for breastfeeding; feeding cues; teaching an effective latch; how to determine if baby’s nutritional needs are being met and if feedings are going well; going back to work; pumping and bottle feeding; etc.
Breast Feeding Benefits
UConn Health lactation consultant Marisa Merlo and OB/GYN Alexandre West discuss the benefits of breastfeeding.
Breast milk has endless benefits and research shows it is the best source of nutrition for all babies, but especially those born prematurely. Breast milk can benefit a baby’s overall survival, healthy growth and development, and immunity. The CDC, WHO, and American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines all recommend that babies be breastfed or receive breast milk for the first six months of their life if possible.
Milk Depot at UConn Health
UConn John Dempsey Hospital is the site of Connecticut’s only hospital-based milk depot for breast milk donations for newborns in need, and the only location in the Greater Hartford Area. We are proud to partner with Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast, a nonprofit community milk bank accredited by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), to bring newborns the benefits of breast milk.
What is a milk depot?
A milk depot is a community location where screened milk donors can drop off milk for shipment to a milk bank. The milk bank collects milk from mothers who have more milk than their babies need; screens, pasteurizes, and tests the milk; then dispenses it primarily to premature and sick babies whose mothers do not have enough milk for them.
Why is donated breast milk important?
Not all mothers of newborns can produce milk or a sufficient milk supply. Mothers with premature newborns can especially experience difficulty producing or pumping enough breast milk while their baby is in the NICU. Donor milk is a more beneficial substitute for fragile newborns than formula. Donor milk is rapidly becoming the standard supplement to mothers’ milk for preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). In addition, an increasing number of community hospitals with regular and special care nurseries use donor milk when babies need a supplement to their mothers’ own milk.
How to apply to donate?
Mothers who wish to donate milk can review guidelines on the Mothers’ Milk Bank website, then contact a Donor Intake Coordinator for screening at 617-527-6263 option 3 or donate@milkbankne.org.
Once an approved donor, where do I drop off my milk?
Approved donors can schedule an appointment to drop off milk at the new UConn John Dempsey Hospital Milk Depot by calling or emailing Lactation Consultant of the Department of OB/GYN at UConn Health, Marisa Merlo, 860-679-4106, mmerlo@uchc.edu.