New London ― During August, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital has observed Breastfeeding Awareness Month, educating mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding for both babies and mothers.

As a designated “Baby Friendly” hospital, L+M promotes the benefits of breastfeeding through education and encouragement of breastfeeding when possible. Breast milk has been proven to offer health benefits that can include increased immunity, fewer allergies, and a more natural mix of nutrients and microbial benefits. Evidence also suggests breast milk can also help reduce ear infections and prevent diabetes and obesity later in life.

Earlier this year, the hospital began offering donor breast milk for qualified babies on the maternity unit with conditions such as low weight, jaundice or low blood sugar. For the past three years, donor breast milk has been available to babies in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The donor breast milk comes from Mother’s Milk Bank Northeast in Massachusetts, where all donating mothers are screened in advance with blood tests, and all donor milk is pasteurized before distribution to hospitals.

Over the past year, 150 families have benefited from the availability of donor breast milk to babies on the maternity unit. L+M also has formula available to mothers who need it.

L+M offers a Breastfeeding Support Group for nursing mothers and an online eclass Understanding Breastfeeding.