Lactation Center

Upcoming Events

New parents want to give their babies the very best. When it comes to nutrition, the best first food for babies is breast milk.

But, for all its health benefits, breastfeeding problems may arise.

That's when moms visit the Lactation Center at Capital Health's Mercer campus. The Center offers daily lactation consultations to inpatients, phone consultation and outpatient consultations in a room designed much like a family room. The Center staff also consults with mothers who deliver at hospitals other than Capital Health.

“We help breastfeeding mothers overcome any problems they may be experiencing as well as offer them support so they are able to attain their breastfeeding goals,” said Diane Procaccini, RN, IBCLC, Certified Lactation Consultant and Coordinator of Lactation Services at Capital Health. “Our certified lactation consultants have years of experience and knowledge to offer mothers help in giving their babies the very best food - breast milk.”

The Center helps moms feel relaxed in a comfortable setting rather than in a ‘sterile’ environment typical of most hospitals.

“We sit down together, review the problems she is experiencing, observe a feeding, and ultimately offer her solutions so that she can continue with breastfeeding, or make the decision to use other feeding options,” said Ms. Procaccini.

Lactation consultations are open to all members of the community. Mothers who give birth at Capital Health will be granted a discounted initial rate.

Capital Health also offers a number of services before, during, and after birth to help prepare a woman to breastfeed. They include: breastfeeding classes to be taken before the birth of your baby; daily hospital room visits by certified lactation consultants after you have given birth; telephone support via the lactation line after leaving the hospital; and New Parent Mornings, a support group that meets every Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Capital Health in Hamilton.

“Breastfeeding is a gift only a mother can give to her child. At Capital Health, we support a woman’s decision to breastfeed and will do all we can to help make a mother’s breastfeeding experience positive and rewarding,” said Ms. Procaccini.

Latching problems, poor weight gain in the baby, engorgement, nipple pain, nipple confusion may be situations requiring a Consultation.Consultations can be scheduled for test weighing or just to make sure things are OK.

To schedule a lactation consultation, call the Capital Health Lactation Center at 609-394-4163.

References For Moms: (video clips, handouts, chat etc)