St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital opens new breastfeeding room

In Lavonia, St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital has opened a new room especially for mothers who breastfeed.

The room is part of a system-wide Breastfeeding Friendly initiative to encourage breastfeeding as an investment in good health for both the baby and the mother.

St. Mary’s spokesman Mark Ralston says is for any mother who needs to use the breastfeeding room.

Breastfeeding benefits for baby include reduced risks of asthma, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and ear and respiratory infections.

Benefits for mothers include a lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer and breast cancer.

Studies show just the act of holding a baby for feeding lowers stress and promotes bonding between the mother and baby.

Ralston said the new breastfeeding room is easy to find on the second floor near the maternity ward.

Additionally, St. Mary’s Sacred Heart offers free, prepared childbirth class for expectant mothers.

The free, 4-week series meets on Tuesdays and covers a variety of topics, including fetal development, the process of labor, pain management alternatives and breathing techniques.

For more information on the free breastfeeding room or the childbirth class, you can call Sacred Heart Hospital at 706.356.7800 and ask for the Mother/Baby Unit.