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Breastfeeding Help When You Leave the Hospital

(scroll down for hours and class schedule)

Breastfeeding is good for you and your baby. Human milk contains the ideal balance of nutrients, anti-infective and anti-inflammatory agents, hormones, growth factors and more that contribute to a baby’s overall good health. Additionally, nursing can be a wonderful source of healthy interaction between a mother and baby and can be beneficial to the mom’s physical recovery from pregnancy and delivery.

However, a natural process sometimes needs a little help from the experts. Some of the problems a mom and baby face in the early days of nursing can be easily addressed with the help of a lactation specialist at the Lactation Center at Saint Vincent.

Saint Vincent has board-certified lactation consultants available to answer any questions you have before or after your baby arrives. The Lactation Center is located in the Saint Vincent Women's Center, 311 West 24 Street, Erie.

Outpatient Breastfeeding Services

New moms utilizing our one-to-one consultation benefit from not only the insight of a highly-experienced lactation nurse, but the free use of a breast pump for one month.

After you return home with your new baby, you can utilize our “Warm Line,” at 814-452-7732 to call with questions and concerns about breastfeeding. Individual assessments and consultations before and after you give birth are available for a fee. And we offer free weight checks for your baby!

Breastfeeding classes on breastfeeding basics, tips for working mothers who breastfeed and mothers who are challenged by routine separation from their babies are available. Go here to view our class schedule.  Contact 814-452-5664 or e-mail sbuffalari@svhs.org to sign up.

A helpful FREE Breastfeeding Support Group hosts meets monthly. Babies, support persons and expectant mothers are welcome! No sign-up is neccessary.  Just come!  

Breastfeeding supplies and equipment -- such as breast pumps, nursing bras and pillows-- along with education on their use, are available through the Lactation Center.  Call the "Warm Line" for additional information or e-mail the Lactation center by clicking here.

New in 2012: 

Daytime support group!  Join us the second Tuesday of each month  from 9:30 to 11 a.m. See schedule below.  

Center Hours for April 2012

Monday, April 30th: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 
Wednesdays: April 4, 11 and 25 - 9:30 am. to 3:30 p.m.; April 18 - 1 to 5 p.m. 
Thursdays, April 5, 12 and 26  9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Closed April 19)
Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

CLASS SCHEDULE

Early Success Class:  Available to new moms and babies in the first two weeks after birth.  Special small-group consultations to learn about latching, which is the key to successful breastfeeding.  Also helps with soreness and milk supply issues.  Classes are held on Fridays from 1 to 3 p.m.  It's FREE! Call 452-7732 to sign up.   

Breastfeeding Support Group: Tuesday, March 13,  9:30 to 11 a.m. AND Wednesday, March 21, 6:30 to 8 p.m.  No need to sign up.  It's FREE!  Bring your baby!

Breastfeeding for New Parents Class:  March 8, 7 to 9 p.m.  $15 per couple. Sign up at 814-452-5664 or e-mail sbuffalari@svhs.org.

Working and Breastfeeding Class:  March 22, 7 to 9 p.m. $15 per couple.   Sign up at 814-452-5664 or e-mail sbuffalari@svhs.org. 

 

• Hospital-grade pump rentals and training Breastfeeding supplies – Select intimate apparel is 50% off!
• Introducing the Hygeia Breast Pump: The FIRST professional pump to get FDA approval for multiple users!  Three-year warranty, three-week return policy!  

 Don't forget our FREE WARM LINE:  For answers to your breastfeeding questions, call (814) 452-7732