HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals recognize that each family has different needs, which is why HSHS hospitals in western Wisconsin have developed programs to support mother, baby and family not only before and during birth but also into the future.
Maternity onto Motherhood offered
The Women and Infants Centers at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital and HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital launched a new Maternity onto Motherhood (MOM) program recently to help expecting moms and families navigate the changes that come with parenthood.
“Whether you’re a first-time parent or adding to your family, this program provides the support and resources you need close to home,” said Maria Green, Director of the Women and Infants Centers at HSHS St. Joseph’s and Sacred Heart hospitals. “Today’s journey to and through pregnancy and parenthood looks different, and we want expecting mothers and their partners to feel safe and connected to community resources.”
Throughout pregnancy and after baby is born, families have access to MOM coordinators for prenatal care coordination, planning for baby’s birth, car seat installation, lactation services and available community resources. MOM coordinators serve as a family’s go-to person to answer questions and help moms navigate personal health changes during pregnancy and after delivery.
For more information about the MOM program, visit www.stjoeschipfalls.org/mom, e-mail momprograminfo@hshs.org or call 715-717-7666 (7MOM).
Western Wisconsin’s first breast milk depot and dispensary now open
HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital is proud to open western Wisconsin’s first breast milk depot and dispensary in one convenient location in partnership with Mothers' Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes.
Inside the Women and Infants Center at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital, the depot and dispensary serves three purposes: to have pasteurized donor breast milk readily available to newborns hospitalized at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital, to have pasteurized donor breast milk available to the public for purchase, and to serve as a site for women to safely donate breast milk.
“Families who are interested in breastfeeding may struggle with low breast milk supply, they may be experiencing an illness or taking a medication that is hindering their ability to breastfeed, or they may have had a child through adoption or surrogacy,” Green said.
All breast milk provided by the dispensary is tested and pasteurized by Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes in Illinois. Mothers’ Milk Bank adheres to rigorous safety protocols and guidelines from the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. Those wishing to donate breast milk are screened and blood tested for communicable diseases and activities that increase the risk of blood borne diseases, as well as the use of tobacco, alcohol and medications.
For more information, visit www.sacredhearteauclaire.org/milkbank.
New programs align with Baby-Friendly hospital designation
The new MOM program and milk dispensary align with HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital’s commitment as a nationally designated Baby-Friendly hospital. Launched by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund, the baby-friendly initiative gives special recognition to hospitals and birthing centers that offer the finest level of maternal hospital care for infant feeding and mother-baby bonding.
As the only Baby-Friendly hospital in the Chippewa Valley, HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital has gone through extensive training to create a team of highly skilled baby experts who provide families with the information, confidence and skills to successfully breastfeed or safely feed with formula; and best practices for mother-baby bonding, including skin-to-skin contact.
Learn more about this designation by watching a series of "baby friendly" videos at www.sacredhearteauclaire.org/women.