From Birth to Breastfeeding: Tampa General Hospital delivers the best start possible to Moms and Newborns

Choosing where to deliver your baby is one of the most important decisions you can make in the parenthood journey. The right birthing center should provide parents-to-be with the education, resources and support they need to have the best possible birth experience.

Breastfeeding is a learning experience for mother and baby—something—the team at Tampa General Hospital (TGH) understands quite well. Ranked top 10 in the nation for obstetrics and gynecology and among the nation’s best hospitals in maternity care by U.S. News & World Report in 2024, the TGH Women’s Institute believes that women’s health deserves special attention and that every childbearing experience is unique.

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As the only designated Baby-Friendly®birth facility in Hillsborough County, TGH nurtures an environment of comfort and privacy that helps new mothers find the confidence and skills to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding.

There are countless health benefits to breastfeeding, including increased maternal-baby bonding, decreased risk of certain infections, optimal nutrition and easier digestion.

At the TGH Women’s Institute, a team of nurses and lactation consultants provides support around the clock to mothers and newborns. This support may include breastfeeding support classes, resources for pumping and storing breast milk, or access to a donor milk program for those who need it.

“Finding a hospital that will meet your unique birthing needs matters,” states Dr. Judette Louis, chief of the TGH Women’s Institute, and James M. Ingram professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

“At Tampa General, we’re committed to ensuring every mother receives the highest-quality medical attention and every newborn has the best possible start in life, which includes breastfeeding when possible.”

TGH’s ongoing investment in the health and well-being of moms and babies will be strongly impacted by the launch this fall of the DeBartolo Nutrition Center for Infants and Children, the hospital’s first “milk lab,” which will be responsible for collecting, storing, preparing and delivering previously pumped breast milk for NICU patients.

The new milk lab will accommodate nearly 100 babies in need of specialized, lifesaving care with donated breast milk, led by a trained staff of nurses, nutritionists and clinicians. The team will manage plentiful supplies of breast milk and fortified formula, which is customized to each baby’s needs in the TGH Jennifer Leigh Muma Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The center will also help mothers who cannot produce enough breast milk by keeping newborns well fed in the critical days, weeks or months after birth.

“We are deeply honored by the growing number of families who entrust Tampa General Hospital with delivering their babies,” adds Melissa Golombek, vice president of the TGH Women’s Institute and Muma Children’s Hospital at TGH. “Their trust and support inspire our dedicated physicians and team members to pursue new and innovative avenues of care. Together, we are improving infant feeding experiences and strengthening the bond between mother and baby, enriching the lives of families throughout Tampa Bay.”

If you have questions about breastfeeding, call the TGH Lactation Helpline: (813) 844-7613 or email breastfeeding@tgh.org. Learn more about the TGH Women’s Institute at https://www.tgh.org/institutes-and-services/womens-institute.

*Presented by Tampa General Hospital | Originally published in the May 2024 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.