Lactation Center

Mothers and their babies receive extra breastfeeding support at the Lactation Center at Falmouth Hospital. Certified Lactation Consultants Suzan Scharr, RNC, IBCLC, and Lori Ruggieri, RNC, IBCLC, work with breastfeeding moms to make sure their breastfeeding experience is successful for mother and baby. As Certified Lactation Consultants, they are trained to detect problems and to help mothers solve any issues that may arise during breastfeeding. Scharr and Ruggieri help with such things as positioning, latching and pumping milk. Babies are weighed and monitored to give mothers confidence that they are getting enough nourishment.

At the hospital’s Lactation Center, Scharr and Ruggieri meet with mothers by appointment every Tuesday and Thursday to go over problems they are having with breastfeeding. The Center is open to all mothers and their babies, even those who have delivered at other hospitals. To access the Lactation Center, women can come in for a complimentary visit, a pediatrician can refer them for a consult, or they can self-refer.

Studies show that breastfeeding reduces the risk of ear infections, eczema, obesity and childhood leukemia. It is also healthy for the mother.

“We respect the mother’s feeding choice,” said Paula Cronin, Director of the Maternity Department at Falmouth Hospital. “If a mother chooses to breastfeed we will support that, and if a mother chooses to bottle feed, we will support that as well. If mothers are unsure, we try to give them information so they can make an educated decision,” she said.