Family Maternity Center introduces online breastfeeding support group

HSHS St. Francis Hospital Family Maternity Center is offering support and education to mothers through a new online Breastfeeding Support Group on Facebook.

The overall goal of the Facebook support group is to allow expecting and breastfeeding moms to support one another by sharing experiences and asking questions. Tips and tricks will be provided from hospital colleagues experienced in lactation consulting who will be facilitating the group.

“We are pleased to offer mothers an interactive experience through this online Breastfeeding Support group,” shared Elisa Feldmann, RNC, nurse manager of the Family Maternity Center. “Mothers with support systems have better outcomes so both baby and mom gain many lifelong health advantages that breastfeeding can provide. Although breastfeeding is completely natural and instinctive to some, others face obstacles that make it difficult to start or continue throughout their child’s first six months of life,” she explained. “Through this Facebook group, we want to provide expecting and breastfeeding moms an open, accessible and interactive way to communicate with local lactation consultants, as well as provide resources, support and guidance that will assist moms in making the best choices for themselves and their babies.”

Those interested in joining this online Breastfeeding Support Group need to have a Facebook login and then search Facebook for “HSHS St. Francis Breastfeeding Support Group” and request to join.

Group guidelines and other terms of use will be reviewable on the page. 

Expectant mothers and their support person can also attend in person, small group classes on childbirth and breastfeeding. The full calendar of classes at St. Francis Hospital Women and Infants Center can be reviewed on our website at www.stfrancis-litchfield.org under Classes and Events. For more information and to register for classes, call (217) 324-8473.

The Family Maternity Center is designated a Silver Safe Sleep Hospital through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver organization and Cribs for Kids Program and recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois with a Blue Distinction® Centers (BDC) for Maternity Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. It is also a Certified Baby-Friendly Hospital by the WHO and UNICEF, one of only approximately 600 designated hospitals in the US. The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies.

Feldmann added, “Being recognized as a Baby-Friendly and a Safe Sleep hospital shows that our staff work diligently to provide all of the necessary education, support and techniques for our moms and babies. We are proud to provide this high-quality care to our community”