The Lactation Program

Breastfeeding is the natural next step after pregnancy and is a very special gift from a mother to her baby. A number of studies have shown that breastfeeding your new baby gives benefits for both of you. Breast-fed infants have lower rates of hospital admissions, ear infections, diarrhea, rashes, allergies, and other medical problems than bottle-fed babies.

Breastfeeding also provides several benefits to you. It enables your uterus to shrink more quickly to its pre-pregnancy size. If continued for at least three months, breastfeeding may help you lose weight. It also delays the return of menstruation (though this is not a reliable means of birth control), and reduces your risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

Lactation Consultants and Classes

The Family Center lactation services are provided by International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) who are available to work with you in private consultation. In Consultation, you will learn about the health benefits of breastfeeding, gain practical insights on how to initiate and sustain feeding practices and recognize risk factors for excessive jaundice. Family education is presented with regard to signs and symptoms of illness, adequate infant hydration, handling and storage of breast milk, as well as pumping and establishing milk supply.

Perinatal safety is one of our primary concerns. While jaundice is common in newborns, extremely high bilirubin levels are rare. Reston Hospital Center is committed to identifying those infants at risk for developing extreme cases of jaundice that could ultimately lead to a more serious condition, kernicterus. A serum bilirubin or TcB screening test is done on all infants to measure and monitor rising bilirubin levels. Frequent successful feedings are integral to providing the calories needed to excrete the bilirubin. Your nurses and lactation consultants will assist you with early initiation of infant breastfeeding and provide guidance toward continued success.

Before having your baby, you may want to learn more about breastfeeding. The Family Center offers Preparation for Breastfeeding, the second Thursday of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This class covers the anatomy and physiology of lactation, breast-feeding tips and techniques, breast care, babies’ sleep and awake states, pumping and storing milk, problem solving and more. Partners are welcome to attend the class. To register for this class and our other new baby prep courses, call 1-877-689-DOCS.

Reston Hospital Center supports the Surgeon General's goals for Healthy People 2010 by encouraging mothers to nurse their infants for the first 6 months of life. All postpartum nurses participate in specialized lactation training to pursue current knowledge and advance practice skills to help new parents make informed decisions with regard to their family's health and wellness.

Ask a Lactation Consultant

At The Family Center we are committed to supporting mothers who wish to breastfeed their babies by providing the best breastfeeding information and services. We invite you to consult one-on-one via email with our Board-Certified Lactation Consultant who will assist you with your breastfeeding questions and concerns.

Send your question to an RHC Lactation Consultant now. We will do our best to answer your questions as soon as we can, and congratulations on your new baby!