Lactation

The University of Kansas Health System offers specialized and routine lactation services within many specialty care areas. These include women's health, high-risk care, labor and delivery, NICU, pediatrics, surgical care and more. As the most advanced, accessible lactation program in the region, providers and patients trust breastfeeding support at the No. 1 hospital in Kansas City as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Breast milk is uniquely suited for your baby. By breastfeeding, you're promoting optimal health for both you and your baby.

• Babies instinctively know how to breastfeed.
• Breast milk is easy to digest and contains more than 200 components that are essential to babies.
• Breast milk contains valuable components that protect infants from a wide variety of illnesses.
• Many of the essential ingredients found in breast milk cannot be replicated.
• Infants who are exclusively breastfed for 4 months have fewer ear infections versus formula-fed infants who have twice the risk.
• Breastfeeding reduces the incidence and lessens the severity of a many infections, including pneumonia and meningitis in infants.
• Breastfeeding protects infants against a variety of illnesses (e.g. diarrhea and infant botulism).
• Breastfed babies have less chance of having allergies, asthma and eczema.
• Evidence suggests that exclusive breastfeeding for at least 2 months protects susceptible children from type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DDM).
• Breastfeeding may reduce the risk for inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and childhood cancers.
• Mothers recover from childbirth more quickly.
• Breastfeeding helps the uterus shrink to its pre-pregnancy state and reduces the amount of blood lost after delivery.
• Mothers who breastfeed for at least 3 months may lose more weight versus mothers who do not breastfeed.
• Mothers who breastfeed usually resume their menstrual cycles 20-30 weeks later than mothers who do not breastfeed.
• Breastfeeding provides warmth and physical closeness, helping create a special bond between mother and baby.

The University of Kansas Health System offers international board certified lactation consultants (IBCLC®) for inpatient consultation 7 days a week. In addition, pediatric families may schedule outpatient lactation support.

Our lactation consultants can assist with:

• Breast pump options
• Pump shield fittings
• Insurance submissions
• Prenatal lactation classes
• Breastfeeding care plans
• Consultations for specialty needs, including medications

For babies who stay in the NICU or have other health problems, moms have access to loaner breast pumps.