Mercy Medical Center Partners with Nest Collaborative
SPRINGFIELD—Mercy Medical Center’s Family Life Center for Maternity (FLC) announced that it now offers virtual lactation consultation to families through its partnership with Nest Collaborative, the nation’s first and largest virtual lactation consultation platform.
The partnership will provide parents who give birth at the FLC access to International Board-Certified lactation Consultants® who provide online video appointments to help guide parents through the breastfeeding process.
Breastfeeding is recognized by pediatricians as an optimal feeding choice that provides infants a healthy start and helps create a bond between mother and baby. Mercy’s Family Life Center for Maternity offers breastfeeding support before delivery, during the hospital stay, and after discharge to encourage, teach and support families who choose to breastfeed. The new partnership with Nest Collaborative expands access to lactation support and gives families the opportunity to meet their breastfeeding goals. It also adds another tool to the hospital’s support services provided to mothers who deliver at the FLC.
Prior to delivery, expectant mothers who plan to deliver at the FLC have access to breastfeeding education with the Nest Collaborative, providing them with the important information and tools needed for a successful start. All nurses at the FLC are trained in lactation support and are available during the hospital stay to assist mothers and babies as they begin their breastfeeding journey, supporting with positioning, latching, and care practices that support breastfeeding and promote lactation.
“Breastfeeding has important benefits for baby and mother,” says Cody Cuni, program manager and lactation consultant for the Breastfeeding Heritage and Pride Program at Mercy’s Family Life Center for Maternity. “When families do not reach their goals, it is often due to lack of support and services. We seek to provide support to families helping them achieve their individual feeding goals. Each breastfeeding journey is unique, and we strive to be there at each step. We also aim to equip families with the knowledge that will help them to make decisions regarding infant feeding that will fit the needs of their family without fear of failure or judgment.”