HOULTON, Maine — Mothers looking for a quiet, comfortable space to nurse their children now have an option at Houlton Regional Hospital.
A new lactation room was unveiled Friday, Nov. 15, at the hospital thanks to the hard work of several departments. Deborah Ganzel, registered nurse at Houlton Regional Hospital, said the room came about thanks to the efforts of the OB/GYN (obstetrics and gynecology) department, particularly Cathy Blanchette, a former full-time nurse who now works per diem. Blanchette serves as a lactation counselor for the hospital.
“Cathy and I discussed the fact that moms need a place to be able to breastfeed their babies in comfort and privacy,” explained Ganzel. “A lot of working moms are nurses and maybe they need a place where they can come and pump, for when they are not at home for their babies.”
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- Houlton Regional Hospital now has a lactation room for nursing mothers and their babies. The room also includes a changing table and chair, offering privacy for the mothers. (Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr)
The room is open to anyone who wishes to use it, whether they be new mothers who have just given birth, employees or women who are simply visiting at the hospital.
The tastefully decorated space features soothing tones of sage and beige and includes a changing table and comfortable chair for mothers to use. The space was previously used for storage.
All of the redesigning and decorating was done by members of the hospital staff, with the money coming from the OB/GYN budget.
The room will be locked during the day. A key can be obtained from the OB/GYN department or at the front lobby at the visitors information desk. The room is available 24 hours a day and also includes a call button in the event assistance is needed.
“It is very important for mothers and their babies that they have a place where they can come and do that (feed or pump) discreetly,” Ganzel said. “We really wanted this to be a modern, calming environment.”
