COLUMBUS, Ohio — According to the latest data from the CDC, 60% of new moms struggle to meet their breastfeeding goals.
Liz Bertram is a mom from the Columbus area who has two young children. She said she had no regrets after turning to certified lactation consultants at OhioHealth for help.
“There is nothing wrong with formula but [breastfeeding] was like something that I really held near and dear to my heart of wanting to provide my kids,” Bertram said. “And I'm just grateful that I took the time to reach out to the lactation department and to not be like, ‘forget it, I'm done. This isn't worth it.’”
The help at OhioHealth extends beyond the reach of its own patients.
"You don't have to have delivered at an OhioHealth facility in order to use our services,” said Mandy Eisler, a registered nurse at Riverside Methodist Hospital “We will talk to any mom."
There are free resources available to moms right here in central Ohio. Here are the resources from three local hospital systems:
At OSU Wexner Medical Center insurance will often cover prenatal and postpartum consults with Certified Lactation Counselors.
At Mount Carmel, there is a breastfeeding helpline. They also offer home visits for postpartum patients and support groups for moms. The support group meets every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to noon at Mount Carmel's Healthy Living Center on its Franklinton Campus. The group saw an increase in interest in recent years since the COVID-19 pandemic.
At OhioHealth, there are free resources across its entire system -- including a helpline and support from certified counselors and nurses.
“To have that support it really kind of lessens that mental burden of ‘I'm in this alone, and I don't have any support,’” Bertram said. “I remember calling the lactation department after hours line, and actually being able to get support after hours. It really helped because I was in pain.”