Bothwell adds new Lactation Consultant

Sarah Cordes, a registered nurse in Bothwell Regional Health Center’s Women’s Health and Newborn Care unit, recently passed the exam to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and will be Bothwell’s new full-time Lactation Consultant.

Cordes has worked in Labor and Delivery in Bothwell since starting her nursing career nearly six years ago. Growing up in a family of health care providers, she has had a passion for labor and delivery, newborns, child development and family care for as long as she can remember.

“I have worked as a nurse caring for laboring and newly delivered moms and babies while also having and taking care of my own three children over the last six-plus years,” she said. “My experience both as a breastfeeding mom and as a nurse caring for breastfeeding moms really heightened my passion to support breastfeeding and infant feeding in general.”

As Lactation Consultant, Cordes specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding and can provide training and support to mothers and families to help make the nursing experience as enjoyable and successful as possible. She can help new moms with latching, transitioning from breast to bottle, pumping, returning to work, milk supply and more. Cordes can also assist with bottle feeding and provide education and support that will benefit moms and babies no matter what feeding type they have chosen.

Cordes said she wanted to pursue the IBCLC certification to provide even better care for moms, babies and families, and she looks forward to providing a new level of support and education in this role.

“I learned so much more than I anticipated,” Cordes said. “My training and education while working toward certification really opened my eyes to how to better support our moms, babies and families as a whole, and why it really is so important. I am excited about this new role and hopeful it will be a great renewed resource to our community.”

To make an appointment to see Cordes at the hospital, contact her at 660.827.9474 or scordes@brhc.org.

Cordes will also be a resource at Baby Café, a free weekly breastfeeding support group hosted in collaboration with the Pettis County Health Center WIC office. Baby Café is for nursing mothers or pregnant women thinking about breastfeeding and is open from 4 to 6 pm each Tuesday in the Women’s Health and Newborn Care lobby located on the first floor of the hospital. No appointment is needed and refreshments are available.