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For Immediate Release | For more information, contact: |
Two Owatonna Hospital nurses receive lactation certificationOWATONNA, Minn 05/28/2008--Jessica Klomps, registered nurse (RN), certified lactation counselor (CLC), and Trisha Wencl, RN, CLC, of Owatonna Hospital’s Birth Center, recently received national certification in lactation counseling from the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice, Inc. The organization provides a national credentialing program in Breastfeeding and Human Lactation for nurses, physicians, dietitians, independent lactation counselors and others.
 Jessica Klomps, RN, CLC, Owatonna Hospital
 Trisha Wencl, RN, CLC, Owatonna Hospital To receive this certification Klomps and Wencl completed a five-day course learning the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes to provide breastfeeding counseling and management support to families who are thinking about breastfeeding or who have questions or problems during the course of breastfeeding/lactation. In addition, they each passed the national certification board examination. Breastfeeding is an effective way to help reduce infant illness, lower infant mortality and ensure a child's healthier future. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends mothers’ breastfeed their babies for at least 12 months. Lack of confidence is the number one reason mothers stop breastfeeding. Dedicated information and guidance is often needed to help mothers and their babies learn the process of breastfeeding. Klomps and Wencl, along with Nancy Martin, RNC, IBCLC, ICCE, educate Owatonna Hospital Birth Center staff about breastfeeding procedures and principles to ensure consistency. They also meet with new mothers and babies to provide education and support for parents choosing to breastfeed their infant. Martin received her certification in 2000 as a lactation consultant. "Our role is really to support the bedside nurse. They don't often have big blocks of time to sit with new mothers and help them learn breastfeeding," added Klomps. "New mothers are very tired, and very vulnerable. It's an intimate time that requires a gentle touch." The three nurses share the lactation counselor and consultant responsibilities in addition to their roles as nurses.
In addition to Klomps and Wencl’s recent certification, the following Owatonna Hospital Birth Center staff has received national certification in other care areas: The Owatonna Hospital Birth Center offers family-centered birthing in private, single rooms and education classes for expectant families.
About Owatonna HospitalThe new Owatonna Hospital will be connected to the current Owatonna Clinic-Mayo Health System 26th Street location, off Interstate 35, creating a health care campus. The facility will be designed to create an environment for providing high quality, safe, patient-centered care for residents in the region. Owatonna Hospital and Allina Hospitals & Clinics are taking a leadership role to promote healthy eating and physical activity through their heart healthy living and obesity initiatives with an emphasis on childhood obesity. Over the next five years, Allina and Owatonna Hospital will be working with community organizations to improve nutrition and increase physical activity to decrease obesity and improve heart health.
# # # Related LinksOwatonna Hospital Birth Center |