Lactation Services & Breastfeeding
According to the World Health Organization, breast milk makes the ideal
food for the healthy growth and development of infants. As an integral
part of the reproductive process, breastfeeding also offers important
benefits for the health of mothers. Studies show that breastfeeding decreases
the risk of many diseases in both mothers and babies. In addition, the
US Preventive Services Task Force recommends efforts to promote breastfeeding.
The Lactation Center at OU Health
To help you learn and practice the best approach to breastfeed your newborn,
take advantage of Oklahoma’s most comprehensive breastfeeding program
at OU Health’s Lactation Center. You’ll work with an experienced
team of International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs),
widely respected throughout Oklahoma and the nation for outstanding clinical
care, advanced education, and participation in the latest research and advocacy.
OU Health’s IBCLCs also provide expert training for Oklahoma’s
physicians, pediatric resident physicians, nurses and other healthcare
professionals who want to expand their knowledge of breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding Services at OU Health
Through the Lactation Center at OU Health, you can take advantage of the
full spectrum of services related to breastfeeding, such as:
- Inpatient care seven days a week
- Telephone help 24/7 through the Breastfeeding Hotline at (877) 271-MILK
(6455); staffed by IBCLCs from OU Health’s Lactation Team
- Outpatient lactation program through OU Physicians
-
Access to the
Oklahoma Breastfeeding Resource Center, where you’ll find the most up-to-date lactation information for
nursing mothers and families, healthcare providers, and organizations
working to improve care
-
Oklahoma Mothers’ Milk Bank, an official milk bank depot providing safe, pasteurized milk donated
by healthy, screened, breastfeeding mothers to help preterm babies and
ill mothers who cannot make enough milk
Breastfeeding Hotline – Support for Oklahoma Families
As a nursing mother, partner, family member, prospective parent or health
professional, you can get the breastfeeding information and support you
need from IBCLCs through the Lactation Center’s Breastfeeding Hotline.
This free service, provided by the Oklahoma State Health Department’s
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, Maternal Child Health (MCH)
Services and OU Health, puts you in touch with a lactation consultant
to help you deal with temporary breastfeeding challenges, even after you
and your baby return home.
Consultants also assist you if you’re ill or your baby is sick and
readmitted to the hospital, or if your new baby arrived prematurely and
you’re expressing milk as you wait for the special day when you
can help your baby learn to breastfeed.
The Breastfeeding Hotline also can help you with a referral to an outpatient
lactation service in Oklahoma, breast pump rental locations or a La Leche
League breastfeeding support group.
For medical questions or diagnosis, contact your doctor or a primary care
physician.
Common Breastfeeding Challenges
Typical breastfeeding issues that might lead you to seek help from OU Health's
lactation consultants include:
- Not making enough milk
- Baby refusing to nurse
- Breast or nipple pain
- Medications and breastfeeding
- Workplace concerns and breastfeeding
- Breast pumps and rentals
- Breastfeeding in public
- Weaning
Your highly trained OU Health breastfeeding consultants collaborate with
the physicians and nurses on your pregnancy and childbirth care team to
ensure you and your family receive the most up-to-date lactation information
and breastfeeding assistance.
Breastfeeding Resources on the Web
In addition to services and information from OU Health's IBCLCs at the
Lactation Center in Oklahoma City, you and your family can explore breastfeeding
information available online through:
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Watch a
short breastfeeding video [8:53 min] to learn more about ways you and your baby benefit from this natural process.