New Online Tool Helps Moms Prepare for Breastfeeding Success

MCHENRY, Ill., April 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Waiting for a new baby's arrival is an exciting time, with expectant parents eager for information and plenty of time on their hands (before late night feedings and diaper changes consume them post-delivery).  That's why Medela is bringing breastfeeding education to moms-to-be with the launch of its online education program, Medela Breastfeeding University. Developed by healthcare professionals and based on Medela's wide range of breastfeeding research, Medela Breastfeeding University will walk moms through what to expect during pregnancy as well as how to initiate breastfeeding at the hospital, transition to home and work, and advocate for herself and her baby.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants breastfeed until 12 months. ⁱ In the United States, about 76.9 percent of mothers will initiate breastfeeding, but only 25.5 percent will be breastfeeding at 1 year. ⁱⁱ

"There is so much to think about when you are expecting a baby," said Carolin Archibald, president of Medela, Inc. "The Affordable Care Act now provides breastpumps to moms, but prenatal education is key to setting expectations and helping mom understand what tools and support she should seek during her breastfeeding experience.  We want to help moms succeed by ensuring they receive breastfeeding education, even if they can't make it to a local class."

The course is comprised of 10 segments (7-12 min each) which cover how breastfeeding works, the benefits, potential obstacles, what to expect at the hospital, how to transition home, how to transition to work, what to do if the baby is in the NICU, and how to know if your baby is getting enough milk.  It also includes information for fathers and grandparents so they can support mother and baby. Registered users can refer back to the program as often as needed.

The $25 registration fee for the program will be donated by Medela to Ronald McDonald House Charities^® (RMHC^®), a nonprofit organization that provides stability and vital resources to families to help them get and keep their children healthy and happy. Over 40 percent of the children RMHC serves are infants who need the loving touch and care from their Moms and Dads in order to heal.  Moms who complete the course will receive a $25 coupon for a breastfeeding Accessory Starter Set, which includes Quick Clean™ Micro Steam™ Bags, a breastfeeding resource guide, Quick Clean Wipes, Pump and Save™ Bags, Disposable Bra Pads, and a breast milk storage guide refrigerator magnet.  

To register for Medela Breastfeeding University, visit medelabreastfeedingu.com. For more information on Medela, visit www.medela.com.

About Medela

Medela provides the most technologically advanced, superior-quality breastpumps and breastfeeding accessories to nursing mothers around the world. A longtime champion of breastfeeding, Medela is the only company to develop products based on research by the world's leading lactation experts. As a result, Medela's breastpumps are the number one choice of healthcare professionals and healthcare facilities worldwide, including more than 80 percent of U.S. hospitals. Medela is also a member of the Healthy People 2020 Consortium, an organization dedicated to helping people achieve their health goals.  

Medela has developed an extensive line of products to meet the diverse needs of nursing mothers. These products include hospital-grade, double and single electric and manual breastpumps; breastfeeding accessories such as pump cleaning products, breast care products and specialty feeding devices; and maternity and nursing intimate apparel. Founded in 1961 by Olle Larsson in Zug, Switzerland, Medela continues to grow under the ownership of the Larsson family. Medela serves customers through a worldwide network of distribution partners in more than 90 countries and its 15 subsidiaries in the United States, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Germany, Sweden, France, Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg), Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, China, Poland and Spain. The company entered the United States more than 30 years ago; its U.S. headquarters are located in McHenry, Illinois. www.medela.com

About Ronald McDonald House Charities^® (RMHC^®)

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and wellbeing of children. Through its global network of local Chapters in 57 countries and regions, its three core programs, the Ronald McDonald House^®, Ronald McDonald Family Room^® and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile^®, and millions of dollars in grants to support children's programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-operated and supported programs provide a bridge to quality health care and give children and families the time they need together to heal faster and cope better. For more information, visit www.rmhc.org, follow RMHC on Twitter (@RMHC), or like RMHC on Facebook (Facebook.com/RMHC Global).

ⁱ American Academy of Pediatrics, Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Accessed April 30, 2013. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/3/e827.full
ⁱⁱ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Breastfeeding Report Card—United States, 2012. Accessed April 30, 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/2012BreastfeedingReportCard.pdf

Media Contact:
Rachel Mennell
815-578-2348
[email protected]  

SOURCE Medela