Breastfeeding Resource Center

MedStar Washington Hospital Center’s Women’s and Infants’ Services Department is committed to assisting mothers and babies in their desire to breastfeed.  Our mission is to improve the health of women and infants through education, support, and promotion of breastfeeding. The entire nursing staff, as well as, highly trained Certified Lactation Counselors (CLC) and International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) are here to provide you with one-on-one education plus support to get you off to a successful start with breastfeeding. Click here to read about our lactation specialists.

Breast milk is the ideal food for all newborns. Premature infants spend less time in the intensive care nursery when breastfed. Our lactation consultants specialize in supporting mothers of newborns who are being cared for in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and our Intermediate Care Nursery.  They will help you obtain a pump for the time you are separated from your infant and offer continued support during your infant’s hospital stay. Regardless of whether your baby is born at term or premature, you can expect competent and compassionate care.

For those moms employed at Hospital Center, we provide a private place for you to express breast milk that meets the requirements of the Breastfeeding Promotion Act. As a Hospital Center associate you have the full support of the Lactation Resource Center. Our Employee Lactation Room is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  The room is equipped with electric breast pumps, a sink, and comfortable seating to ease the transition of returning to work with continuation of breastfeeding.

In addition, to help prepare pregnant women for the breastfeeding experience, Hospital Center offers childbirth preparation classes that include a two hour breastfeeding segment.  The health care professionals here at Hospital Center know that mother’s milk is the ideal food for infants which makes breastfeeding the best choice you can make for the health of you and your baby.

Join us for a breastfeeding class or call the Lactation Resource Center at 202/877-2838 with any concerns you may have.  If you are planning to deliver at Hospital Center or have already had your precious baby we are here for you. Help is just a phone call away!

Please click here to be linked to the D.C. Breastfeeding Coalition for further support, including a resource guide, lots of information for families and businesses, as well as legislative updates.