Woodland Memorial Hospital Lactation Services
At Woodland Memorial Hospital's Birthing Center, we offer lactation services and breastfeeding support services for during your hospital stay and beyond.
Breastfeeding Support
More about our approach
At Dignity Health, we help all families create a feeding plan, whether they choose breast milk, formula or a combination of both. We follow the latest scientific recommendations and stand by the following six guiding principles:
1. Promote breastfeeding for its health benefits.
We believe that human milk is the most natural way to nourish an infant. Babies who drink only breast milk have a lower risk of health problems, including ear infections, asthma, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and heart disease later in life.
2. Foster skin-to-skin contact for improved well-being.
Research shows that early skin-to-skin contact is ideal for introducing babies to breastfeeding and their new surroundings. Keeping mothers and babies together during the hospital stay also creates bonding opportunities. We support keeping mothers and babies together unless separation is medically necessary.
3. Extend feeding support beyond breastfeeding.
While human milk is the best source of nutrition for infants, we fully support parents who may need to complement breastfeeding with donated human milk or infant formula.
4. Provide human milk to premature babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Many NICU parents are overwhelmed and need special support to feed their infants. Our nurses and breastfeeding support staff educate families on how to use breast pumps and feed expressed human milk correctly.
5. Teach, empower and support parents.
Our staff provides lactation support and education to help families meet their goals and feel confident in feeding their baby. Parents who know how to breastfeed and feel comfortable breastfeeding are more likely to succeed.
6. Build a strong breastfeeding foundation.
Support, knowledge and practice are essential for successful breastfeeding beyond the hospital walls. As families prepare to leave the hospital, our staff ensures they have the necessary local resources and information to continue their journey with confidence.
Breastfeeding Support Groups
Dignity Health’s Greater Sacramento Hospitals are pleased to offer a weekly support group for new breastfeeding/chestfeeding families via Zoom. Our group is facilitated by an IBCLC (International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant).
Our support group is open to all, and may be right for you if you:
- Need answers to breastfeeding questions
- Want to meet other new parents
- Are pregnant and interested in breastfeeding/chestfeeding
- Have milk supply concerns
- Are breastfeeding and returning to work/school
- Want to learn more about pumping and storage
Join us for support and information.
Thursday mornings, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.*
For more information or to get the Zoom link to join, please email:
Dignity Health Online Breastfeeding Support Group: [email protected].
* This group does not meet on holidays.