Samitivej Hospital, The Breastfeeding Hospital in Bangkok

 **Collaborative post**

There is no doubting the wonder of childbirth, the creation of new life, is perhaps, nature’s greatest triumph. From the moment of conception, bonding between mother and baby begins one that will last a lifetime. Undoubtedly, the most intense period of bonding begins during the precious period of early infancy. 

As a mother cradles her newborn, and the child suckles for the first time, an unfathomable connection is cemented. Two hearts, two minds, even two souls, metaphorically become one. Breastfeeding may make mother and baby inseparable in an unscientific way, but in more definable terms, it is providing the very sustenance of life for the newborn.

Samitivej Hospital has always recognized the importance of this early bonding phenomenon, and with this in mind, they started Bangkok’s first Lactation Clinic. The clinic soon began receiving coveted accolades, the WHO, UNICEF, along with the Ministry of Public Health, in 2001, quickly recognized Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital as Thailand’s first “Baby-Friendly Hospital”

As with all of Samitivej Hospitals’ services, having highly trained, the specialist staff is considered of vital importance and stands as a cornerstone of their doctrine. In maintaining the hospital’s impeccable standards, the lactation clinic is headed up by a Neonatologist, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) along with a highly trained staff of lactation nurses.

The Lactation Clinic

At Samitivej Hospital’s lactation clinic, help, support and assistance are available for all new mothers. Unlike other organizations, which have attempted to follow Samitivej’s lead with less convincing facsimiles, at Samitivej’s lactation clinic they give thought to breastfeeding long before baby enters this world.

The clinic provides the opportunity for expectant mothers to have consultations as an outpatient with a lactation specialist by appointment to suit the patient. Many expectant mothers have fears or apprehensions about childbirth, and this includes the act of breastfeeding. The skilled staff are able to allay many concerns that expectant mothers have. Samitivej’s lactation clinic’s highly trained staff often address the concerns of mothers with a history of difficulties in breastfeeding. Some expectant mothers seek advice with the imminent prospect of breastfeeding after a multiple births, the qualified advice they gain is not only informative but supportive and comforting.

Another common area of concern on which the staff are able to advise is for mothers wishing to breastfeed after having breast surgery. The numbers of women undergoing breast surgery are, for any number of reasons, now far more prevalent than ever before. It is natural for an expectant mother to have concerns if they have previously had a breast reduction or augmentation with areolar incisions. 

Classes at Samitivej’s Lactation Clinic

Samitivej’s lactation clinic also offers prenatal breastfeeding classes. The classes are beneficial to mothers through the informative nature of the sessions and for having open access to lactation specialists. But it is much more than that, these sessions allow new and experienced mothers to interact with each other, share experiences and realize that they are not alone in having worries and concerns regarding breastfeeding.

The structured sessions tackle the most, and less, common problems that breastfeeding mothers may face. These classes are based upon evidence-based practices specifically utilized to assist new and repeat mothers with their breastfeeding. The key areas covered include care of the newborn, the importance of skin-to-skin care, along with the physiology of lactation. After these sessions, mothers tend to feel more at ease and better informed.

Samitivej’s Lactation Clinic Post Birth

Samitivej Hospital is committed to ensuring that expectant mothers have access to all the advice and support possible prenatal. However, after the birth of their baby, many mothers still face challenges, very often regarding breastfeeding. The lactation clinic continues to support these mothers and babies after their discharge from the hospital. There are numerous issues a mother may experience with breastfeeding, at Samitivej Hospital these mothers and babies can be consulted as outpatients. 

Some of the issues tackled by their experts include non-latching babies, sore nipples and breast pain, which may include blocked ducts and mastitis. Candida albicans, a pathogenic yeast found in the gastrointestinal tract and mouth, which, outside of the body can cause infection, is also not uncommon. 

Outpatient consultations can also tackle problems relating to breastfeeding after multiple births, with premature babies or those with special needs or other less common challenges, such as babies with a cleft palate, tongue tie or trisomy 21 (more commonly known as Down Syndrome DS or DNS).

Milk supply problems can be addressed and overcome with the advice and support of the lactation clinic’s skilled personnel as can induced lactation aimed at, the more sensitive areas of, surrogacy or adoption. Also, the multiple practicalities surrounding a mother breastfeeding and returning to work are addressed. 

Many mothers will wish to return to work as soon as is practicable following the birth of their child. Returning to work whilst breastfeeding presents issues which are often unique to each mother. Samitivej’s specialist staff can help a mother draw up a practical routine to aid and accommodate breastfeeding in their workplace through the clinic’s postnatal, outpatient consultations. 

The Lactation Clinic’s Info’ at Your Fingertips

The Samitivej Hospital’s lactation clinic has also brought comprehensive information to every breastfeeding mother with their unique Breastfeeding Handbook. In addition to lactation classes along with pre and postnatal consultations, having a point of reference, at your fingertips accessible at any time, is invaluable. The breastfeeding Handbook does exactly that. The handbook is a mine of information. It details the miracle of breast milk and how is altered during the early days of a baby’s life, evolving in synergy with the child.

The handbook gives detailed information on the benefits that baby obtains from breastfeeding in the immediate term. It also details how breastfeeding can, statistically, affect the child as it develops through childhood towards becoming an adult. It gives valuable information on breastfeeding preparation and delivery, along with the numerous positions that mother can adopt to conduct her breastfeeding, keeping both mother and baby comfortable.

The handbook provides comprehensive advice on expressing milk, explaining methods and techniques. It informs of the optimum way in which to store expressed milk, including advice on labelling and rotation of the milk stored. The handbook also details the correct method of freezing expressed milk, and then how to thaw the product. 

There is a detailed section in the handbook dedicated to patient’s own questions. The questions reflect how each mother has differing issues and concerns. The questions, with their answers, are an invaluable pool of information for all breastfeeding mothers. Samitivej’s unique handbook can alleviate many of the worries, difficulties and concerns that mothers have and gains continual plaudits from mothers and professionals alike.

Visit breastfeeding hospital in Bangkok for more information. 

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