Breast-feeding Support
For mothers who deliver at MercyOne and have decided to breast-feed their baby, lactation and breast-feeding support is available for you following your baby’s birth.
Our nurses are trained to provide exceptional guidance and support for new breast-feeding moms and babies. MercyOne Mother-Baby nurses receive annual breast-feeding education, and new nurses receive eight hours of lactation education provided by a lactation consultant.
However, some mothers and babies may need a little extra assistance learning how to breast-feed. For these special circumstances, MercyOne has International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) and Lactation Counselors available during your hospital stay to help you. The lactation staff is specially trained to manage your lactation needs, including: assisting with latch, breast-feeding with challenging circumstances, or initiating a milk supply for a baby in our NICU. We are here to help you.
Prenatal education
During your second or third trimester, we encourage you to attend our Breast Feeding Essentials Class. For more information and registration, view our events page or call 515-643-MOMS.
Planning for Your Stay
We encourage you to get your breast pump before you deliver and bring it with you during your hospital stay. We can assist in showing you how to operate your pump and fitting you for the correct flange size to ensure comfort and maximum milk transfer during pump operation.
Getting Started
Moms are encouraged to put baby to breast in the first hour after birth. Your birthing center nurse can help you with this. You are also encouraged to put your baby skin to skin as much as possible in the early days to promote breast-feeding. The MercyOne Women & Infants' Center Breast Pump Purchase and Rental Information flier provides a resource for purchasing or renting your pump, as well as information on the breast-feeding and pumping supplies carried by MercyOne's outpatient pharmacies.
Inpatient Visits
Once you have been moved from your birthing suite to the Mother/Baby recovery suite, the nursing staff will be available to help you and your baby learn to breast-feed. Should a larger issue become present, our nursing staff will contact one of our lactation consultants to visit in your room.
Your lactation consultants will be able to help you one-on-one, and make an individualized plan for home, if continued breast-feeding support is needed. They will be available by phone for support and questions after your discharge. To reach one of our lactation consultants by phone contact us at 515-358-2082.
Outpatient Breast-feeding Support
Lactation Consultations
If you need a one-on-one lactation consultation after you go home, please call MercyOne Lactation Services to make an appointment. We are here to help you! Your insurance will be billed for the lactation consultation visit. Please check with your insurance company about applicable co-pays. To schedule an appointment, please call 515-358-2082.
Breast pump rentals are available on a weekly or monthly basis from MercyOne Lactation Services.
Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa Collection Site
Decades of research have established that human milk is the perfect food for infants. The Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa–a program of the University of Iowa Children's Hospital–collects, stores, and distributes human milk to those who need it. MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center is proud to be a collection location in central Iowa.
Donors already approved by the Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa may donate milk at the location below.
Milk donations for the Mother’s Milk Bank of Iowa are accepted between
7 a.m. and 9 p.m. and can be delivered to:
MercyOne Women & Infants’ Center
Level 3, East Tower
MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center
1111 6th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50314
515-358-2082
Women interested in becoming a human milk donor should contact the Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa at (877) 891-5347.
