Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Neonatologist - Dr. Grisel Galarza

Dr. Marta Grisel Galarza is a Board Certified Lactation Specialist as well as a Neonatologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and she has worked at Holtz Children’s hospital since 1997. She is the Medical Director of the Intermediate Care NICU, a 70-bed unit. More recently she developed a Neonatal/Antenatal specific Palliative Care Program for the Division of Neonatology.
 
She has worked endlessly and passionately on these projects because they promote and protect mother-baby bonding and breastfeeding, her goal for all NICU mothers and babies.

Grisel is also a founding board member of NICU Alumni and we are thrilled to have her joining us again!

Quick Takeaways from the Episode:

Establishing and Maintaining Milk Supply
- It’s really difficult to breast feed and pump
- It’s a commitment
- The recommendation is to start early, mo matter what gestation the baby was born at (within 6 hours!), but keep in mind that it can be difficult especially if the mother is sick
- Try by starting with hand expression initially to stimulate the breast to produce milk

Maximizing Pumping Sessions
- Try to rent a Hospital Grade Double Pump

• Medela Symphony Hospital Grade Double Breast Pump has Premature Program Settings

- Gentle Massage

• Ask about how to give yourself a very gentle lymphatic massage
• Warm compresses are also helpful
• It is very important that you empty your supply when you pump so that your body will continue to replenish the right amount

Overcoming Challenges
- Rest
- Eat Well - you use 300-500 calories per pumping session!
- Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
- Take your multivitamin

Maintaining Breastfeeding Goals
- SKIN-TO-SKIN can play a huge role and has many benefits even beyond milk supply, pumping, and breastfeeding.
- Grisel is often asked, "How long should you continue to pump and breastfeed?", and her answer is, "For however long you can, whether it’s 2 weeks or 2 months, or more! Any length of time is a success." 

Some of Grisel's favorite resources for NICU and Post-NICU Support
- Don’t forget about Skin-to-Skin! 💜
- LaLeche League International on Hand Expression
- Breastfeeding tips from Dept of Women, Infants, and Children
- Support in Miami

• Information and Consultations
• Breastfeeding helpline: 786.336.1336

- The Federal Office on Women’s Health

• National Hotline 800.994.9662

- Additional Consultation Services from the Lactation Network

Let's stay in touch!
You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website, www.nicualumni.org.

A special thanks to the Prolacta Bioscience Foundation for supporting the NICU Alumni podcast!

You can also support our mission and help create brighter futures for babies that have graduated from the NICU (who we affectionately refer to as NICU Alumni) and their families by donating here.

The purpose of this podcast is for entertainment only and should not be viewed as medical advice.