While World Breastfeeding Week provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of community support, breastfeeding education and assistance remain available through UM Shore Regional Health throughout the year.
In recognition of World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month, UM Shore Regional Health’s Birthing Center recently brought breastfeeding and pumping families together for a Lactation Celebration focused on community, connection and support. UM Shore Regional Health is a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System.
The event provided an opportunity for families to gather, share stories, celebrate milestones, ask questions and connect with other breastfeeding and pumping parents in a relaxed and supportive environment. International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) from UM Shore Regional Health were available to provide guidance, encouragement and education while celebrating each family’s unique feeding journey.
“Research consistently shows that families are more likely to achieve their feeding goals when they feel supported, encouraged and connected to others who share similar experiences,” said Stephanie King, MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, childbirth educator at The Birthing Center at UM Shore Medical Center at Easton. “Building a welcoming community helps reduce isolation, fosters confidence and reminds parents that they are never alone in their journey.”
The Lactation Celebration reflected UM Shore Regional Health’s ongoing commitment to evidence-based breastfeeding support, maternal and infant health, and creating an inclusive environment where every family feels valued.
“We know that every family’s experience is different, and there is no single path to success,” King said. “Our goal is to create a space where families feel welcome, accepted and supported regardless of where they are in their breastfeeding journey. Community makes a difference, and together we can help families thrive.”
While World Breastfeeding Week provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of community support, breastfeeding education and assistance remain available through UM Shore Regional Health throughout the year. The Birthing Center offers breastfeeding classes that provide information about the benefits of breastfeeding for babies and new mothers, along with tips and techniques for successful breastfeeding.
Certified lactation consultants also provide breastfeeding support for expectant and new mothers, including information about breastfeeding benefits and guidance on techniques for successful breastfeeding. Support is available by appointment through video conference or in person. To schedule breastfeeding support, call 410-822-1000, ext. 5700. More information about breastfeeding education and support, as well as ongoing monthly childbirth and parent education programs is available at umshoreregional.org/birthing.
“Supporting families doesn’t end after the birth of a baby or when an event is over,” King said. “Having access to knowledgeable professionals and ongoing support can make a meaningful difference as families navigate their individual feeding journeys.”
UM Shore Regional Health encourages families to take advantage of the education and support resources available through The Birthing Center and its lactation consultants. These services are designed to help families feel informed, confident and supported throughout their breastfeeding experience.
About University of Maryland Shore Regional Health
A member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) is the principal provider of comprehensive health care services for more than 170,000 residents of five counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore: Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot. UM SRH consists of approximately 2,000 team members, including more than 600 health care providers on the Medical Staff, who work with community partners to advance the values that are foundational to our mission: Compassion, Discovery, Excellence, Diversity and Integrity. For more information, visit https://www.umms.org/shore.
About the University of Maryland Medical System
The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.
