Services Offered

Mothers produce the perfect food for their babies. Breast milk provides balanced nutrition for the growing infant, protects against infection and prevents allergy.

Many mothers and babies have a successful lactation experience. However, at Children's Mercy Hospital, we realize that some mothers and babies need special clinical assistance and education to achieve this same goal.

Lactation Room

Children's Mercy Hospital provides a Lactation Room for mothers to use to express their breast milk. The room is available to all breastfeeding mothers with children at Children's Mercy Hospital and it is located in the Intensive Care Nursery.

The room consists of three stations, each equipped with a Medela Classic electric breast pump and a privacy curtain, bottled drinking water for breastfeeding mothers, cleaning facilities for breast pump tubing, and sterile bottles with preprinted labels for those babies admitted to the Intensive Care Nursery. Educational resources (CMH Care Cards) related to breastfeeding are available as well as Lactation Consultants to assist mothers with expressing breast milk and any questions or concerns related to breastfeeding.

Commonly Treated Conditions

• Mother/baby separation
• Down Syndrome
• Dysfunctional suck
• Neurological impairment
• Twins/Triplets
• Cleft lip/palate
• Cardiac defect
• Prematurity
• Low milk supply
• Feeding difficulties
• Slow weight gain
• Engorgement