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Story by: Clancy McGilligan

After Lillian Mason gave birth at Sentara Obici Hospital in March, she spent an hour bonding with her son William through skin-to-skin contact.

Then a lactation consultant arrived and asked if she was ready to try feeding him. The consultant helped Mason breastfeed for the first time, checking the latch and educating her about breastfeeding basics.

“It was really nice to have that immediate time to bond with him,” Mason said.

Mason describes herself as an anxious person — as someone who “needs all the information.”

So, when the consultant mentioned a weekly breastfeeding support group, she decided to attend. The group answered her questions and offered her crucial support.

“There were all these things I didn’t know that I didn’t know,” Mason said.

Now Sentara Obici Hospital will help more mothers through a national program designed to increase breastfeeding rates, improve maternity care, and reduce racial disparities.

Sentara Obici Hospital is the first hospital in Virginia and North Carolina—and one of only 101 in the country—to participate in the federally funded Communities and Hospitals Advancing Maternity Practices, or CHAMPS.

The program offers training on best practices, an expert coach, and support to carry out the globally recognized ten steps for successful breastfeeding. Those steps include helping mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth, having a written breastfeeding policy for staff, and establishing breastfeeding support groups.

Breastmilk is the “best nutrition we can provide for babies,” said Stephanie Clements, lactation consultant at Sentara Obici Hospital. Clements, who helped Mason breastfeed after she gave birth, is overseeing the hospital’s participation in CHAMPS.

One of the program’s main goals is to reduce disparities in breastfeeding rates, which vary significantly by race and ethnicity.

According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the U.S., the rates of breastfeeding initiation were highest among Asian American mothers (90.1%) and lowest among Black mothers (74.5%).

Breastfeeding initiation rates also vary widely by county around the country, ranging from 22% to more than 90%.

At Sentara Obici Hospital, about 75% of all mothers initiate breastfeeding.

“We’re very passionate about improving our breastfeeding rates,” said Interim Clinical Nurse Manager Samantha Briley, who is supporting the CHAMPS program.

Breastfeeding has a range of benefits. Babies who breastfeed have a reduced risk of conditions such as asthma, obesity, and type 1 diabetes. Mothers who breastfeed have lower rates of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

Education is a big part of efforts to increase breastfeeding rates. Still, myths persist about breastfeeding, including that breastfeeding is easy.

“So many moms don’t get a lot of education prenatally, and they don’t always understand the benefits,” Clements said.

The hospital applied for the three-year CHAMPS program in February, and training for staff is scheduled to begin this month.

As part of the program, staff will track disparities and provide data to the CDC.

“This program will help families with the tools they need to have an optimal start in life,” said Amber Price, president of Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center. Price is part of Sentara’s system-wide efforts to improve maternity care, including by collaborating with community- and faith-based leaders.

“Sentara is committed to health equity, and nowhere is that more important than during the childbearing year for mothers and their babies,” said Price.