Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center celebrates World Breastfeeding Week: August 1 to August 7

Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center joins hospitals around the world to educate and promote breastfeeding of newborns during the first six months of life during World Breastfeeding Week. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast milk is known to provide both nourishment and therapeutic benefits to an infant, yielding critical immunological and developmental support that cannot be replicated in formula. In addition, women who breastfeed are less likely to develop breast and ovarian cancer and children are less likely to develop diseases such as obesity and diabetes later in life.

“Breast milk is the optimal nutrition for newborns and research has demonstrated that properly designed and implemented breastfeeding programs in hospitals leads to improved infant health. Because of this, we are committed to supporting breastfeeding,” states Jennifer Waters, RN, MSN, NE-BC, director of Women’s Services at Mountainside Medical Center. Along with participating in this annual international initiative, Mountainside is committed to promoting breastfeeding throughout the year. “Newborns are brought to their mothers promptly for breastfeeding in our maternity department and mother and child are allowed to share the same room around the clock whenever possible. Upon discharge, our certified lactation consultants follow up with breastfeeding mothers to smooth their transition home. We also offer breastfeeding courses and a weekly support group.”

Laurie Barbalinardo and Tish Buggeln, specially trained staff nurses who have been awarded certification by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE), provide helpful information and encouragement to moms by teaching breastfeeding basics and assisting in designing a breastfeeding plan that meets specific goals. They also work to develop a personalized pumping schedule and provide techniques to maximize milk production.

“Breastfeeding is the best gift you can give your child upon birth,” explains Laurie Barbalinardo, BSN, IBCLC. “Sadly, some women think they can’t breastfeed or are afraid of breastfeeding. It’s important that they know they are not alone and that our hospital offers lactation support prior to birth, and after delivery.”

For more information about Breastfeeding programs, call Mountainside Medical Center’s Parent Education at 973-429-6264.

About Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center

Mountainside Medical Center has been serving Montclair and its surrounding New Jersey communities since 1891. The hospital provides patients immediate access to innovative and effective treatment alternatives at specialized centers within the hospital that focus on imaging, women’s health, cancer care, surgery, obesity, stroke and chronic kidney disease. Mountainside Medical Center is designated as a Primary Stroke Center by the NJ State Department of Health and Senior Services and is one of only a few community hospitals licensed by the State to perform emergency cardiac angioplasty. To learn more about Mountainside Medical Center visitwww.mountainsidehosp.com.

ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH

Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 13 hospitals, including two academic medical centers, two children's hospitals and nine community hospitals, physician practices, more than 120 ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness centers, rehabilitation centers, and urgent care and after-hours centers. Hackensack Meridian Health has 28,000 team members, more than 6,000 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves.

The Network's notable distinctions include having one of only five major academic medical centers in the nation to receive Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitals Award for five or more consecutive years, the number one hospital in New Jersey as ranked by U.S. News and World Report, consistently achieving Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, recipient of the John M. Eisenberg Award for Patient Safety and Quality from The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum, a six-time recipient of Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For," one of the "20 Best Workplaces in Health Care" in the nation, and the number one "Best Place to Work for Women." Hackensack Meridian Health is a member of AllSpire Health Partners, an interstate consortium of leading health systems, to focus on the sharing of best practices in clinical care and achieving efficiencies.

The hospitals of Hackensack Meridian Health include: academic medical centers – Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune; children's hospitals – Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital in Neptune; community hospitals – Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, and Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood.

For additional information, please visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org.

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