JULY 2011 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

UNMH Health Source

If the baby should require care in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit(NICU), MBU staff help the mother get to the baby’s bedside. Assistance is also provided to begin breast pumping and getting milk to the baby, while encouraging the mother to get rest so she can heal and respond to the baby’s needs.

Care also continues after discharge. Most babies are seen in the Newborn Clinic two to three days after going home.

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The Mother Baby Unit (MBU) is an all-private-room, maternity floor providing care for new mothers and their healthy newborns.

Nurses are trained to meet the needs of these special patients and understand that birth is a normal process leading to exciting changes for the entire family.

Mothers are encouraged to keep baby at the bedside (known as rooming in), which teaches them how to respond to the baby’s needs and establish skin-to-skin care. Mothers also learn to identify feeding cues while

establishing breastfeeding or bottle-feeding skills. Rooms have a built-in guest bed so the new mother can have Dad, one family member or friend stay overnight with her.

All nurses in the MBU are trained to help the new mother successfully begin breastfeeding.

If there is a need for more intense intervention, Certified Lactation Specialists are available to assist during the hospital stay.

UNMH Mother Baby Unit Provides Guidance & Support

UNMH Lactation Clinic

Breast milk is one of the best gifts a mother can give to her child. Often women have concerns about being able to produce enough milk or the ability to “do it right.” UNMH has a clinic dedicated solely to helping woman successfully breastfeed.

Staff is available for prenatal teaching and assessment and follow-up days after discharge, or any time a mother feels the need for support and guidance.

The clinic staff can assist with introduction of foods when the baby is six months old or when the mother is ready to wean the baby.

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Adult Urgent Care Center Now Open at UNMH

Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Located on the West side of the main hospital next to the former Cancer Center location (now the BBRP Plaza).

UNM Hospitals Mission Our patient care mission encompasses serving as an accessible, high-quality, safety-focused, comprehensive care provider for all the people of Bernalillo County, and providing specialized services for people across the state.

Our education mission focuses on creating a patient care environment which is supportive of the educational programs of the UNM Health Sciences Center health professional schools.

Our research mission focuses on the application of new biomedical knowledge, translated to innovative patient care programs and models of health care delivery, leading to health status improvement for New Mexico.

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Mother Baby Unit ● continued from previous page

This is when it’s crucial to monitor feeding, weight gain, jaundice and the healing of the circumcision. The nurses are available to answer any questions the family may have.

During the follow-up visit, nurses can assist mothers with breastfeeding, if needed. In addition, the baby is assessed by a nurse practitioner or a physician’s assistant. Before a patient leaves the clinic, staff will make sure the baby has an appointment for the well-baby checkup at 10-14 days of life. If necessary, an appointment can also be scheduled to return to the newborn or lactation clinic.

Private room

with visitor

sleeping

area for Dad

or a family

member.

Lactation Clinic ● continued from previous page

The clinic is staffed with two Registered Nurses who are specially trained to assist with breastfeeding. The nurses are International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC). The clinic is open Monday through Saturday and appointments last 45-60 minutes. If the nurse identifies an issue needing medical attention, she can refer the mother or baby to appropriate providers. For an appointment, please call 272-0480. If needed, interpreter services are provided.

Do you know of a community

organization that would like to learn

more about UNM Hospitals?

As an organization, UNMH wants to

keep the public as informed as possible

about our hospital and the services

available to the community.

Please contact Misty Salaz,

UNM Hospitals Community

Relations Specialist, to present at

your next meeting.

mpsalaz@salud.unm.edu or 272-4388