Hendersonville Medical Center offers “Nursing Your Baby” Class on March 19

HENDERSONVILLE, TN (March 13, 2007) - Did you know that breast milk provides all of the nutritional requirements for your baby, up to six months of age? Breastfeeding also reduces your baby’s risk of infections, and helps you to recover from the stress of pregnancy, labor and delivery as well as lower your risk for breast cancer. However, perhaps most importantly, breastfeeding helps you bond with your baby.

“Choosing to breastfeed your baby is one of the most important decisions you will make, whether you are eagerly awaiting the arrival of your baby, or are already experiencing the joys and challenges of a new baby,” said Jan Alexander, Director of Women’s Services for Hendersonville Medical Center. “We know women understand that breastfeeding is not just a lifestyle choice, but a health choice for both herself and her baby.”

Even though breastfeeding is a completely natural way of feeding your baby, knowing how to do it properly is a learned skill and takes practice.

“Many new mothers have become very educated and savvy about child care and nutrition, but give up on breastfeeding too soon,” adds Alexander. “Hendersonville Medical Center wants to give women a place where they can receive professional and personal support for breastfeeding.”

To help prepare you for this experience, Hendersonville Medical Center is hosting a breastfeeding basics class, “Nursing Your Baby,” on Monday, March 13 from 6:30-8:30pm in the Learning Resource Center.  The cost of the class is $25 per couple and dads encouraged to come.

The class will cover how to establish a supply of milk, how often to nurse your baby, how to tell if your baby is getting enough milk and how your partner can help. Common issues such as latch-on techniques, jaundice, thrush and sore nipples will also be addressed. For more information or to register, please call TriStar MedLine at 615-342-1919 or 1-800-242-5662.

 
About Hendersonville
Hendersonville Medical Center, part of the TriStar Health System, is a 110-bed community-based medical center with comprehensive medical and surgical programs including Obstetrics, Cardiology, Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery services.  Fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Hendersonville Medical Center remains the only Accredited Chest Pain Center in Sumner County.  Portland Medical Center, a facility of Hendersonville Medical Center, joined the TriStar Health System in April 2006 and together, we are proudly serving the healthcare needs of Sumner County.

For more information about the services offered and health plans accepted by Hendersonville Medical Center, Portland Medical Center or TriStar Health System, call MedLine at 342-1919, toll-free outside of Nashville at 1-800-242-5662, or visit the website at TriStarHealth.com.