Hospital Breastfeeding Success Rate Reaches 97 Percent

DANBURY — Danbury Hospital has reached another milestone: in January, 97 percent of new mothers who delivered at the hospital were discharged nursing their infants, the highest figure of any hospital in the state.

“Considering the fact that the goal of Healthy People 2010 [a national health program] breastfeeding initiative is 75 percent, that figure is amazing,” said neonatologist Eitan Kilchevsky, MD, medical director for Danbury Hospital’s Center for Breastfeeding. “It’s certainly one of the highest in the nation.”

The hospital’s breastfeeding program had already reached great heights. In October 2009, 96 percent of new mothers were discharged home nursing their newborn infants. In November 2009, Danbury Hospital showed a 90 percent success rate and in December 2009, 88 percent of mothers left the hospital breastfeeding their infants.

The hospital keeps monthly breastfeeding records of the approximately 2,500 births a year. In Connecticut, the average hospital success rate hovers around 75 percent.

“Our breastfeeding initiative is among the best in the nation and is still a well-kept secret,” Dr Kilchevsky said.

Dr Kilchevsky credits the collaborative efforts of Danbury Hospital personnel, including lactation specialist Kathleen Moonan and her staff, with much of the success of the program. Mothers begin breastfeeding within an hour of birth. The team works with the mothers to solve any problems.

Health Benefits Of Breastfeeding For Children

Dr Kilchevsky and Ms Moonan enumerated the many benefits of breastfeeding, including reduced risk of childhood obesity, a growing problem in the United States.

“Some breastfed babies look chubby as babies but they end up healthier,” Dr Kilchevsky said. “Statistics show they are less prone to be overweight.”

“A breastfed baby never overeats,” added Ms Moonan. “They lean out when they start walking,”

Babies on breast milk also develop fewer ear infections, have fewer diarrhea and intestinal problems, fewer allergies and asthma and receive immunity from their mothers. There is growing evidence that breastfed babies have higher IQs and do better in school and have less behavioral problems as well

Breast milk can also lower the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome, a particular benefit for mothers who smoke as smoking increases the chances of SIDS, Dr Kilchevsky said.

Healthy Benefits

And the benefits do not just affect the baby, Ms Moonan said. Women who breastfeed lose baby fat sooner and have decreased rates of breast and ovarian cancers and a lower risk of osteoporosis.

“It’s also free and more convenient,” she said. “I tell the patients, ‘it’s all green!’ — no plastic or waste.”

But how did Danbury Hospital reach this astounding statistic? Dr Kilchevsky cites collaboration among hospital personnel that starts in the womb with an expectant mother’s obstetrician.

“It starts prenatally,” said Dr Kilchevsky, who has more than 20 years experience in clinical and academic newborn medicine and pediatrics. “We have good people at the hospital championing the cause.”

Education Help Mothers Feel Comfortable With Breastfeeding

The education of new mothers continues with the labor and maternity and nursery nurses and Ms Moonan’s lactation specialists, who make sure mothers are comfortable with breastfeeding. Formula is used if for some reason it is medically necessary, she said. But breast milk is clearly superior as it changes according to the needs and age of the baby to provide the best benefits and, of course, formula does not.

Dr Kilchevsky said January’s 97 percent success rate is a benchmark. The hospital will now direct its efforts to increase the amount of time mothers breastfeed after they leave the hospital to the 12 months recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The AAP says mothers should introduce solid foods beginning at about 6 months.

“The most important thing is for mothers to be advocates for themselves and for their babies,” Dr Kilchevsky said. “It is the mothers’ choice. If they need support, our resources are available from the community lactation specialists. If mothers want to stop breastfeeding, it’s their choice, but at the same time we would not like mothers stop breastfeeding because they are having problems as we may have the solution.”

“Our resources are always available,” said Ms Moonan, whose department makes hundreds of telephone calls a month to mothers. A board-certified lactation specialist who has been at the hospital ten years, Ms Moonan is working to collect data on following mothers’ breastfeeding activities after they leave the hospital.

“I can always do better; we can always make an experience better for somebody,” she said.