Linda Girouard

Claremont / Valley Regional Hospital is pleased to announce the services of Linda Girouard, RNC, IBCLC, a certified lactation consultant and certified labor and delivery nurse at the hospital.

Girouard, who entered her position in the Valley Regional Hospital Maternal/Child Health Unit as Certified Lactation Consultant in August of 1999, has developed a consultation program at the hospital for new mothers who plan to breastfeed or are interested in breastfeeding their infants.Girouard comes to the position following a position as Lactation Coordinator at Alice Peck Day Hospital in Lebanon.

Certified to teach and support breastfeeding mothers, Girouard offers post-partum breastfeeding classes as well as offering consultations with physicians and expectant mothers before the birth of children.She will coordinate breast pump rentals and offer classes as well as provide inpatient and outpatient consultations.Available by phone for help with breastfeeding questions or concerns, Girouard is dedicated to alerting new Moms about the importance and advantages of breastfeeding.

Girouard said that breast milk is ìnatureís best milk for newborns."She elaborated that breast milk carries immunologic properties that may decrease ear infections and gastrointestinal problems in infants as well as providing needed nutritients "in just the right amounts."Girouard said that research shows that breastfed babies have fewer allergies, respiratory problems and tooth decay than formula fed babies, and that breast milk changes to meet growing babies needs.

"There is no cost to breastfeed, and itís much easier to feed, too," said Girouard, who said that breast milk is always ready with no mixing, measuring, or heating and with no preparations or clean up involved as in bottle feeding."Breast feeding also helps strengthen the bond between Mom and baby.The closeness and the feelings associated with breast feeding are as important as the nutritional properties," she said."There ís no reason that Dad can't be involved, either," said Girouard."Dad can cuddle the baby when the feeding is done, or if Mom is using a breast pump, Dad can actually feed the expressed breast milk to the baby when the bottle has been introduced."

Girouard and Valley Regional are currently negotiating contracts with a breast pump rental service.She expects that the ìrental stationî will be up and running within the next several months.The hospital currently offers affordable, hospital grade hand pumps and will provide consultation, support and education to help the breastfeeding mother.

Girouard is a member of the New Hampshire Breast Feeding Task Force, which is exploring the issue of employee lactation programs and support.Girouard said that research shows that breast feeding mothers return to work more quickly and are more productive on the job in supportive employment environments.She hopes to initiate educational sessions for employers in the Claremont area as an adjunct to her activity in the task force.As a Case Manager at Valley Regional , she works with area physicians by providing expectant mothers with material and knowledge to make healthy choices when deciding whether or not to breastfeed, and she looks forward to expanding these consultations as a service to employers.

...
Linda Girouard, RN, IBCLC, a certified lactation consultant and certified labor and delivery nurse at Valley Regional Hospital, describes the use of a hand pump to express breast milk.Valley Regional now offers lactation consultation and educational offerings for expectant and breastfeeding mothers.