Part 3: One Woman’s Journey to Motherhood
Shortly after Niquaja Burns, 38, delivered her baby girl at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis, she began breastfeeding her.
“I was able to nurse my second baby successfully for eight months, so I wanted to be able to do the same with this baby,” said Burns. “There’s lots of benefits with breastfeeding, which I wanted for baby Niquaja.”
In fact, breastfeeding is one of the best gifts you can give your baby. Breast milk contains important antibodies and enzymes that protect your baby from various infections and ailments, including ear infections, allergies and asthma, diabetes, obesity, etc.
“We know how critical breastfeeding is; however, we also know it can be a challenge for some moms,” said Becky Boedeker, RN, clinical nurse specialist for women’s services at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis. “Given our designation as a Baby-Friendly® Hospital, our goal is to provide mothers with all the resources and support they need to make the best decision possible for their health and the health of their baby. If they choose to breastfeed, we want to help them succeed.”
Breastfeeding is also beneficial for moms. Mothers secrete the hormones oxytocin and prolactin while breastfeeding, which can reduce anxiety. Plus, moms benefit from reduced bleeding after childbirth; more success in losing extra pregnancy weight; less risk of anemia; lower incidence of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer; and stronger bones.
For Burns, breastfeeding baby Niquaja went smoothly in the hospital. The lactation team visited her regularly while she was in the postpartum suite to make sure she didn’t have any issues. They also checked Niquaja’s intake and weight gain, which indicated she was getting enough breastmilk.
The first night after Burns and Niquaja were discharged home from the hospital, however, Burns encountered an unexpected breastfeeding issue.
“My breasts were painfully engorged, but I couldn’t remember what I was supposed to do,” said Burns. “Thankfully, I was able to reach out to St. Mary’s lactation services, who talked me through how to find relief.”
That’s one of the benefits the lactation team at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – St. Louis offers new moms.
“I’m so glad Niquaja reached out when she needed help. Every breastfeeding mom leaves our hospital with the phone number for the lactation office, so she can call whenever a question or concern arises – seven days a week and four nights a week,” said Boedeker. “If there’s a problem that can’t be solved over the phone, we can schedule an in-person visit at no charge.”
Burns continues to breastfeed baby Niquaja five months later. She’s proud of their success thus far, knowing her baby is getting extra protection. Plus, since Burns received her COVID-19 vaccine shortly after delivering her baby, she’s encouraged that baby Niquaja is receiving some level of protection against COVID-19 from those antibodies that get passed through her breast milk.
