Renate Abstoss, IBCLC

Bringing a new baby home from the hospital is a great adventure. Care and feeding of a newborn is an all-consuming, 24-hour-a-day, and often nerve wracking, time.

When you think about it, many skill sets require training and exams.

But when it comes to being a new parent, you just get handed your bundle of joy and you are more or less on your own, sink or swim.

This can be a very daunting experience for first-time parents, and here at Stamford Hospital we are striving to do what we can to ease the transition.That's why we offer breastfeeding support groups for new moms. 

Between prenatal breastfeeding classes, help with breastfeeding while in the hospital and lots of information during the discharge process, we are hoping to give new parents the confidence and abilities needed to take care of their infant and themselves.

One of the most important ways we are trying to offer help to new families is with our New Mother’s Support Group.

Research shows that peer support is one of the most effective ways to cope with challenging life situations. In today’s mobile world, many young parents are away from their families, have moved to a new city, have changed jobs and don’t have local friends with young children.

This can lead to isolation and contribute to the onset of postpartum adjustment challenges.

To create an ongoing, supportive environment, we offer weekly meetings around topics of family adjustment, facilitated by a Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Moms can weigh their babies on our electronic scale to see how they're gaining weight after feeds. We provide refreshments and lots of loving support to help with getting through these often challenging weeks.

We are always striving to offer breastfeeding support, never judging moms' feeding choices, and giving evidence-based information when needed.

Most importantly, we are fostering relationships between the moms so they can form friendships and new experiences which can last them long beyond the weeks they come to our group.

We wish all the new parents whose babies are starting life at our hospital a wonderful experience with breastfeeding and nurturing their precious little ones.