Yokota Air Base, Japan --
New mothers at Yokota now have a cozy, comfortable and
private place to feed and take care of their newborns thanks to the efforts of
the 374th Medical Group’s staff and Red Cross volunteers.
The new lactation room will serve any new mother to visit
the hospital and members of the hospital staff; it is located on the second
floor of the hospital in room 258, between the Multi-service Inpatient Unit and
Same Day Surgery.
Several volunteers from the 374th Medical Group and Red
Cross did the work to make the room possible and officially opened March 3,
2017.
According to Capt. Emlyn E. Mann, 374th Surgical
Operations Squadron Multi-service Inpatient Unit clinical nurse, many items
including a rocking chair and changing table were donated by the Red Cross. With
suggestions from local families the medical staff was able to provide other desired
items including one-of-a-kind pieces of art work.
“Creating this
lactation room allows families the comfort and privacy needed to help meet
their breastfeeding goals and provide optimal nutrition for their infant” said
Selina Parker, Red Cross Hospital Co-Chair. “In the past, many working mothers
had less than ideal places to pump milk for their baby, but now, we are hoping
that mothers will be able to utilize the comfort and availability of this room.
“
About 15 infants are delivered at Yokota each month and frequent
follow-up appointments throughout the first year means many new mothers will
benefit from the comfortable privacy of the new room.
“We hope this room offers the support new families need and
encourage anyone with children to use it,” said Mann.