Simi Valley Hospital | Living Well | Spring 2016

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| Living Well 5
Resources at your fingertips
There are excellent resources online about breastfeeding, but
be sure to stick with recognized professional organizations
when doing Internet research. The American Academy of
Family Physicians ) has a large amount of informa-
tion and resources regarding breastfeeding. The American
Academy of Pediatrics ) and the American Congress
of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ) are also great
sites to visit to learn more about breastfeeding.
Simi Valley Hospital is here to help
with your special delivery
In addition to breastfeeding support for family bonding, Simi Valley Hospital
offers a number of other special touches that help to make your birthing
experience easier, safer and more comfortable:
Spacious, 300-square-foot private patient suites in labor and post-
partum care units, featuring oversized windows with beautiful views,
flat-screen TVs, private bathing facilities and home-like décor.
Comfortable sleeper chairs for dad or another support person.
A level 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) led by neonatal
physician specialists from UCLA, where babies born prematurely or
with special medical needs can receive the care they need.
A dedicated nurse who will be with you through the entire labor,
delivery and recovery process.
Support for personal birthing choices, with nurses specially trained
in natural birthing techniques.
“Golden hour” skin-to-skin time for the first hour following the
birth of your baby.
A special recovery unit for women who deliver by C-section, designed
to keep mom and baby together during the important first hours of life.
Wireless Internet access throughout the hospital.
A restaurant-style celebration meal for mom and dad or another
support person.
An infant security system, including locks on doors in the nursery,
as well as labor and post-partum care units.
Cord-banking available for parents who wish to store stem-cell-rich
blood from the umbilical cord for future use by their child.
Lactation support services available after discharge from the hospital.
To learn more about having your baby at Simi Valley
Hospital, go to hover over
“Services” and then click on “Maternity.”
We’ve got a class for that! Simi Valley
Hospital supports new moms and their families
with a wide range of childbirth and parenting
classes, including a FREE tour of our Maternity
Center; a prepared childbirth series; classes
on the topics of breastfeeding and baby care
basics; a special, FREE tour for big brothers-and
sisters-to-be; our Breastfeeding Cafe (a FREE
weekly support group); and our Twilight Infant/
Parent Class. See page 7 to learn more.
proteins and fat—all the things your baby
needs during his or her first weeks of life.
The milk you produce immediately after
giving birth, called colostrum (kuh-LAH-
struhm), may look a bit strange, but it is
exactly what your baby needs to kick-
start his or her digestive system.
•Proper physical and mental
development. Babies who are
breastfed tend to grow into a normal
weight and avoid becoming overweight.
In addition, breastfeeding appears to
reduce the number of both doctor visits
and hospitalizations among children.
According to some studies, breast-
feeding can help increase IQ scores as
the child grows.
Breastfeeding has benefits for you too:
•Recovery. When you breastfeed,
your body releases a hormone called
oxytocin (ahx-ee-TOE-suhn), which
signals your uterus to contract and
return to its normal size. This action may
also reduce bleeding in your uterus. In
addition, breastfeeding burns calories,
which can help you shed baby weight.
•Economic benefits. Breast milk is
free! It’s also available 24/7 whenever
your baby needs it. No rushed trips to
the store to buy expensive formula.
Although breastfeeding offers big
benefits, there are circumstances—on
the mother’s part or the baby’s—when
breastfeeding isn’t the best option.
That’s why it’s important to talk with
your OB-GYN, pediatrician or family
physician about breastfeeding and
whether or not it’s a good option for
you. Chances are, it is.
Because we are so passionate
about successful breastfeeding,
Simi Valley Hospital provides a
free breastfeeding support
group for our community moms
every Thursday from 9 a.m. to
10 a.m. in the Women’s Unit. To
attend, park in visitor parking,
go to the front desk and sign
in. Someone will show you to
the location.