Los niños de Utah y el sur de Idaho que sufren un accidente cerebrovascular ahora pueden acudir a un experto pediátrico en accidentes cerebrovasculares a través de la red virtual para accidentes cerebrovasculares de Intermountain Children’s Health, la más grande y sólida del país, y obtener los diagnósticos rápidos que salvan vidas que necesitan cerca de su hogar.

La red de teleictus pediátrica de Intermountain Children’s Health brinda a las familias acceso a un experto pediátrico en accidentes cerebrovasculares de Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, en asociación con el Departamento de Pediatría de University of Utah Health, en un momento en el que cada segundo cuenta.

El acceso al teleictus está disponible para los niños en cualquiera de los 24 hospitales de Intermountain Health en Utah e Idaho.

“Los niños también sufren accidentes cerebrovasculares”, afirmó la Dra. Lisa Pabst, neuróloga pediátrica y experta en accidentes cerebrovasculares de Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital y University of Utah Health. “Pero, a menudo, el diagnóstico se retrasa o los niños reciben un diagnóstico erróneo, porque los accidentes cerebrovasculares se presentan de manera diferente en los niños que en los adultos. Es importante que el personal de las salas de emergencia conozca las señales y tome medidas rápidas para salvar la movilidad futura de un niño y, posiblemente, su vida”.

Un accidente cerebrovascular se produce cuando el flujo sanguíneo en el cerebro se bloquea, lo que provoca que partes del cerebro se queden sin oxígeno y comiencen a morir.

Con respecto a los accidentes cerebrovasculares, cuanto más rápido se obtenga un diagnóstico y se reciba un tratamiento, mejor será el resultado. Esto aplica a pacientes de todas las edades, incluidos los bebés.

Sin embargo, los niños que sufren accidentes cerebrovasculares pocas veces reciben la respuesta rápida que necesitan y presentan tasas desproporcionadas de discapacidad y mortalidad debido al accidente cerebrovascular.

Esto se debe a que los accidentes cerebrovasculares son menos frecuentes en niños y los síntomas son diferentes a los de los adultos. Los niños que sufren un accidente cerebrovascular pueden tener síntomas como caída facial, debilidad en el brazo, balbuceo o dificultad para hablar o comprender el habla, problemas de visión y confusión, que también son síntomas frecuentes de un accidente cerebrovascular en adultos.

Sin embargo, los bebés y niños pequeños que sufren un accidente cerebrovascular también pueden parecer inconscientes o extremadamente somnolientos, tener una convulsión o usar solo la mitad del cuerpo. Los niños más grandes pueden experimentar mareos o vómitos y dolores de cabeza repentinos e intensos.

Eso es lo que le pasó a Lucy Merrell, que ahora es estudiante de segundo año de la escuela secundaria y sobreviviente de un accidente cerebrovascular.

En la primavera del octavo grado, Lucy se estaba preparando para una práctica de fútbol de dos horas cuando experimentó un dolor de cabeza agudo. Acostarse no ayudó.

“No sabía qué hacer y de inmediato pensé en ir a buscar a mi mamá”, informó Lucy, quien vive en American Fork. “Caminaba por el pasillo y trataba de sostenerme. Intentaba hablar, pero no me salían las palabras. Sabía lo que quería decir, pero no podía expresarlo”.

Al principio, la madre de Lucy, Melanie, pensó que Lucy estaba bromeando porque no quería ir a entrenar. Rápidamente se dio cuenta de que no era una broma.

“Lucy se sentó en el piso y, luego, no pudo subirse al sofá. Noté que un lado de la cara estaba caído”, dijo Melanie. “Me quedé pensando: ¿por qué observo señales de un accidente cerebrovascular en ella? Los niños no tienen accidentes cerebrovasculares”.

La familia de Lucy la llevó a una sala de emergencias local, en la que su padre insistió en que un médico se comunicara con Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. Allí, el equipo de neurología pediátrica guio al médico durante un examen, solicitó una tomografía computarizada y una resonancia magnética (MRI, por sus siglas en inglés), y le diagnosticó a Lucy un accidente cerebrovascular isquémico, que es una reducción crítica del flujo sanguíneo al cerebro.

Se trasladó a Lucy de urgencia en ambulancia al Primary Children’s Hospital en Salt Lake City, donde el Dr. Craig Kilburg, neurocirujano endovascular y vascular abierto certificado por la junta de University of Utah Health e Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, le extrajo dos coágulos de sangre del cerebro.

Mientras se estaba recuperando en el hospital unos días después, Lucy sufrió otro accidente cerebrovascular. La parte del cerebro afectada por el accidente cerebrovascular había empeorado brevemente porque el vaso que le suministraba sangre se irritó, dijo la Dra. Pabst. El reposo en cama, los líquidos y los medicamentos ayudaron a estabilizar el flujo sanguíneo y le dieron tiempo al vaso sanguíneo para recuperarse.

Mientras sus compañeros de clase finalizaban el año escolar, Lucy se centró en las terapias físicas, ocupacionales y del habla.

Unos meses después, Lucy pudo unirse a sus compañeros el primer día de clases de la secundaria. Tomó clases de honores y obtuvo las calificaciones más altas.

El logro fue nada menos que un milagro, uno de los muchos que sus padres dicen que experimentaron.

“Ver lo grande que era el accidente cerebrovascular en la MRI y que ella no presente ningún síntoma, eso es un milagro”, dijo el padre de Lucy, Randy, quien también expresó su gratitud por el conocimiento experto de la Dra. Pabst y el Dr. Kilburg.

El accidente cerebrovascular que sufrió Lucy en abril de 2024 ocurrió poco antes del lanzamiento de teleictus de Intermountain Children’s Health. Afortunadamente, la llamada telefónica del médico local al equipo de la Dra. Pabst evitó lo que podría haber sido una tragedia.

“La nueva red de atención virtual de Intermountain Children’s Health brinda a los pacientes acceso a la atención de más alta calidad por parte de expertos del Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital, independientemente de dónde vivan dentro de la red”, informó Amy Back, enfermera registrada (RN, por sus siglas en inglés), directora de los servicios pediátricos de telesalud de Intermountain Children’s Health. “Esto ayudará a mejorar los resultados de salud de los niños y reducir los costos para las familias. Además, es lo correcto”.

Con la red de teleictus de Intermountain Children’s Health, se promete ayudar a niños como Lucy a acceder al mismo conocimiento experto de cualquiera de los 24 hospitales de Intermountain Health en Utah o el sur de Idaho. Así es como funciona:

·       Los cuidadores de las salas de emergencias usan teleictus para comunicarse con la Dra. Pabst y su equipo de Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital en Salt Lake City.

·       Los expertos en accidentes cerebrovasculares de Primary Children ven al niño a través de una videoconferencia y le hacen preguntas. Trabajan con el equipo local para realizar diagnósticos, que pueden incluir pedirle al niño que responda a órdenes, como levantar un brazo o patear una pierna.

·       Los médicos de ambos lugares determinan los siguientes pasos del tratamiento, con la meta de restablecer el flujo sanguíneo al cerebro. Entre los tratamientos, se puede incluir mantener al niño acostado, administrarle líquidos intravenosos (IV, por sus siglas en inglés) o medicamentos anticoagulantes o, en casos más graves, trasladar al niño al Primary Children’s Hospital para recibir atención continua, lo que puede incluir cirugía.

Para tener éxito, la red de teleictus pediátrica requirió colaboración, educación y capacitación con cada uno de los cuidadores y médicos de emergencia de los 24 hospitales que trabajan en áreas relacionadas, incluidos los coordinadores de accidentes cerebrovasculares, afirmó la Dra. Pabst.

Durante su año de implementación, la red de teleictus ayudó a 19 niños. La Dra. Pabst dice que la cifra puede aumentar en 2026 porque ya se implementa completamente en los hospitales de Intermountain Health en Utah e Idaho. Además, la expansión está actualmente en marcha, lo que fue posible gracias al apoyo de Intermountain Foundation.

En el futuro, los líderes de Intermountain Children’s Health quieren expandir el acceso a teleictus a otros sitios de atención de Intermountain en Nevada, Colorado, Montana y Wyoming para ayudar a más niños como Lucy.

Hoy en día, a Lucy le gusta hacer manualidades, diseñar sudaderas y hornear galletas con trozos de triple chocolate. Le encanta cantar y acaba de regresar de la ciudad de Nueva York, en donde ella y el grupo de coro de su escuela realizaron una presentación en Carnegie Hall. Le gusta trabajar en un restaurante local (su primer trabajo), conducir y estar con familiares y amigos.

El 8 de abril, día del aniversario del accidente cerebrovascular que sufrió, ella y su familia quieren preparar comidas para otras familias en la Sala Familiar Ronald McDonald del hospital, donde recibieron ayuda.

Además, planean seguir participando en la Caminata por los Accidentes Cerebrovasculares y el Corazón anual de Utah de la American Heart Association, lo que representó una lección llena de humildad para Lucy. En su primer equipo de caminata estuvo la Dra. Pabst y su equipo de atención, familiares, amigos y dos niños sobrevivientes de accidentes cerebrovasculares que, en ese momento, usaban sillas de ruedas.

“Era la única sobreviviente de un accidente cerebrovascular que podía caminar”, dijo ella sobre su primera Caminata por los Accidentes Cerebrovasculares. “Fue difícil ver a los otros niños en sillas de ruedas, pero sé que todos se recuperarán, porque yo me recuperé”.

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Children in Utah and southern Idaho suffering from stroke now can see a pediatric stroke expert via Intermountain Children’s Health’s virtual stroke network – the largest, most robust in the country – and get the rapid, lifesaving diagnoses they need close to home.

The Intermountain Children’s Health Pediatric Telestroke network gives families access to a pediatric stroke expert at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital in partnership with University of Utah Health’s Department of Pediatrics, at a time when every second counts.

Telestroke access is available to kids at any one of Intermountain Health’s 24 hospitals in Utah and Idaho.

“Kids have strokes too,” said Lisa Pabst, MD, pediatric neurologist and stroke expert at University of Utah Health and Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. “But often diagnosis is delayed, or kids get a misdiagnosis, because stroke presents differently in kids than it does in adults. It’s important for emergency rooms to know the signs, and take fast action to save a child’s future mobility and possibly, their life.”

Stroke is caused when blood flow in the brain is blocked, causing parts of the brain to be deprived of oxygen and start to die.

With stroke, the faster the diagnosis and treatment, the better the outcome. This is true for patients of all ages, including infants.

But kids having strokes rarely get the rapid response they need, and have disproportionate rates of disability and death due to stroke.

That’s because stroke is less common in children, and the symptoms look different than they do in adults. Kids having a stroke may have face-drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech or difficulty speaking or understanding speech, vision problems, and confusion – also common symptoms of adult stroke. But infants and toddlers having a stroke may also appear unresponsive or extremely sleepy, have a seizure, or use only half their bodies. Older children may experience dizziness or sudden, severe headaches and vomiting.

That’s what happened to Lucy Merrell, now a high school sophomore and stroke survivor.

In the spring of Lucy’s eighth-grade year, she was gearing up for a two-hour soccer practice when she got a splitting headache. Lying down didn’t help.

“I didn’t know what to do and immediately had a thought in my head to go and find mom,” said Lucy, who lives in American Fork. “I was going down the hall and trying to hold on. I was trying to speak, but couldn’t think of the words. I knew what I wanted to say, but it wouldn’t come out.”

Lucy’s mom Melanie at first thought Lucy was teasing because she didn’t want to go to practice. She quickly realized it was no joke.

“Lucy sat on the floor and then couldn’t pull herself up to the couch. I noticed one side of her face was droopy,” Melanie said. “I’m thinking, why am I seeing signs of stroke in her? Kids don’t have strokes.”

Lucy’s family took her to a local emergency room, where her dad encouraged a doctor to call Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. There, the pediatric neurology team guided the doctor through an exam, ordered at CT scan and MRI, and diagnosed Lucy with ischemic stroke, which is a critical reduction in blood flow to the brain.

Lucy was rushed by ambulance to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City where Craig Kilburg, MD, a board certified endovascular and open vascular neurosurgeon at University of Utah Health and Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, removed two blood clots from her brain.

While recovering in the hospital a few days later, Lucy suffered another stroke. The part of her brain affected by the stroke had briefly worsened, because the vessel supplying blood to it was irritated, Dr. Pabst said. Bed rest, fluids, and medications helped stabilize blood flow and gave the blood vessel time to recover.

While classmates were completing the school year, Lucy focused on physical, occupational and speech therapies.

A few months later, Lucy was able to join her classmates on the first day of high school. She took honors classes and earned all A’s.

The accomplishment was nothing short of a miracle – one of many her parents say they experienced.

“To see how big the stroke was on the MRI, and have it be where she doesn’t exhibit any symptoms of it, that is a miracle,” said Lucy’s dad Randy, also expressing gratitude for the expertise of Drs. Pabst and Kilburg.

Lucy’s April 2024 stroke happened shortly before Intermountain Children’s Health’s Telestroke rollout. Luckily, the local doctor’s phone call to Dr. Pabst’s team prevented what could have been a tragedy.

“The new Intermountain Children’s Health virtual network of care gives patients access to the highest quality of care from experts at Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital, regardless of where they live within the network,” said Amy Back, RN, Director of Pediatric Telehealth Services for Intermountain Children’s Health. “This will help improve kids’ health outcomes and lower costs to families. Plus, it’s the right thing to do.”

The Intermountain Children’s Health Telestroke network promises to help kids like Lucy access the same expertise from any of Intermountain Health’s 24 hospitals in Utah or southern Idaho. Here’s how it works:

• Emergency room caregivers use Telestroke to connect to Dr. Pabst and her team at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.

• Primary Children’s stroke experts see the child through video conferencing and ask questions. They work with the local team to run diagnostics, which may include asking the child to respond to commands like lifting one arm or kicking one leg.

• The physicians in both locations determine next steps for treatment with the goal of restoring blood flow to the brain. This may include having the child lie flat, administering IV fluids and/or blood-thinning medications, or in more severe cases, transferring the child to Primary Children’s Hospital for ongoing care, which may include surgery.

To be successful, the pediatric Telestroke network required collaboration, education, and training with each of the 24 hospitals’ emergency physicians and caregivers working in related areas, including stroke coordinators, Dr. Pabst said.

During its phase-in year, the Telestroke network helped 19 children. Dr. Pabst says the number may rise through 2026 because it is now fully implemented in Intermountain Health’s Utah and Idaho hospitals – and expansion is currently underway, made possible by support from Intermountain Foundation.

In the future, Intermountain Children’s Health leaders want to expand Telestroke access to other Intermountain care sites in Nevada, Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming to help even more kids like Lucy.

Today, Lucy likes to do arts and crafts, design sweatshirts, and bake triple chocolate chunk cookies. She loves to sing and just returned from New York City where she and her school choir group performed at Carnegie Hall. She enjoys working at a local restaurant – her first job – driving and being with family and friends.

On the April 8 anniversary of her stroke, she and her family want to prepare meals for other families at the hospital’s Ronald McDonald Family Room, where they were helped. 

They also plan to continue taking part in the American Heart Association’s annual Utah Heart and Stroke Walk, which has been humbling for Lucy. Her premiere walk team included Dr. Pabst and her care team, family, friends, and two child stroke survivors who at the time used wheelchairs.

“I was the only stroke survivor who could walk,” she said of her first Stroke Walk. “It was hard to see the other kids in wheelchairs, but I know they will all heal because I was healed.” 

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Patients in a remote area of Fairbanks, Alaska, now have broader access to greatly needed cancer services due to a groundbreaking telehealth partnership between Intermountain Health and the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC).

The Telehealth Oncology collaboration brings comprehensive cancer care closer to home for Alaska Native populations across a vast and remote region.

Tanana Chiefs Conference is an Alaska Native non-profit corporation that provides health and social services to more than 20,000 Alaska Natives and American Indians, many of whom live in small, remote villages spread across 235,000 square miles of Interior Alaska—an area nearly the size of Texas.

The TeleOncology partnership with Intermountain Health is designed to reduce travel time and expenses, allowing many patients to remain in their communities during cancer treatment and receive the best possible treatment and comprehensive cancer care.

After initial in-person oncology treatments in Fairbanks, many patients can continue follow-up care remotely, including some lab monitoring and telehealth consultations.

“Our partnership with Intermountain Health has created much needed access and resulted in reduced barriers to care for many Alaska Native patients challenged with cancer and hematologic conditions. Alaska is quite remote, and medical specialties can often be bottlenecked,” said Angie Lucien, PA-C, physician associate and team lead for Tanana Chiefs Conference’s Cancer and Infusion Center. “Working with our dedicated Oncologist Dr. Rupard, we have found an accessible, compassionate, culturally competent provider. This program is truly tailored to our patient population’s unique needs, who desire care closer to home.”

Fairbanks, Alaska, serves as a central hub for interior tribal regions, making it an ideal location for this regional care model.

Historically, patients in the Fairbanks region have faced significant barriers to accessing cancer care, often traveling more than 350 miles to Anchorage for treatment. In collaboration with Intermountain Health’s TeleOncology program, patients can receive chemotherapy, infusion therapy, lab work, imaging, and support services locally in Fairbanks.

“Travel was too much for some patients, or it was too cumbersome to figure it all out,” said Kimberlee Rowett, TeleOncology Clinical Manager for Intermountain Health. “Fortunately, our collaboration provides that necessary service for patients. What an honor it is to be a part of that.”

This collaboration will also benefit healthcare workers who have had to travel long distances to provide care.

“For a healthy individual, traveling out to the remote village locations can often be challenging. When we look at our patients going through cancer treatment, our elder patients, finding a way to limit this challenging travel and providing care closer to home is a top priority,” said Kelly McDevitt, nurse care manager of Cancer Care and Infusion Center for Tanana Chiefs Conference. “Our patients are not boarding large commercial airplanes; they are often times getting on small 4- and 6-seater planes and traveling to and from the runways on 4 wheelers and snow machines in the winter.”

The TeleOncology program has provided patients in the area with individualized care and regional support during their cancer journeys.

TeleOncology services are now made accessible to Alaska Native patients in rural communities with further access to pharmacy and oncology services. The program is set up to allow for growth and possible service expansions in the future.

Erik Rupard, MD, is an Intermountain Health hematology and oncology physician. He helps provide telehealth hematology/oncology consultation and treatment to the Native Alaskan community in Fairbanks.

He and the TCC team work together to provide additional insight and diagnostics to patients.  

“It has been wonderful getting to know this great group of patients who have shared their experiences and their culture with me,” said Dr. Rupard. “Some of these patients would have otherwise had to travel 350+ miles to Anchorage to receive care, and many have expressed their appreciation that these services are available more locally for them. It has been very gratifying.”

“The population we serve has unique needs and Dr. Rupard really works hard to understand our patients and give them the care that they're needing in that moment, whether it be some sort of emotional support and reassurance, or focusing more toward treatment and what that looks like for each individual. He also serves as a mentor for our developing team and offers purposeful education to our providers and nursing at every opportunity,” said Lucien.

Dr. Rupard has found that the positive impact of the TCC and Intermountain Health partnership has brought greater resources to patients, and additional support to caregivers as they help more patients.  

“In just four months, we’ve diagnosed and treated a dozen cancers or blood disorders, ranging from the benign, like iron deficiency anemia, to the malignant, like Stage 4 prostate cancer or breast cancer,” Dr. Rupard said. “This partnership is a game-changer for our community.”

While not every patient will be served by Dr. Rupard as the primarily oncologist due to community limitations (such as diagnostic and treatment options), this partnership has reduced the burden of travel for a great deal of patients and marks a significant step forward in reducing the burden of cancer.

“I occasionally had patients ask, ‘Hey, is it okay if I do this thing, if I go on this trip, even though I'm on treatment?’ And my answer is always the same. ‘We are doing all this, putting you through all these things, so that you can live your life and enjoy your life and be with your family and take the trips and take part in that event that is so important to you’,” said Dr. Rupard.

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Para muchas madres primerizas, una consulta de lactancia puede ser vital. Es por esto que el Cedar City Hospital está expandiendo sus servicios para madres primerizas con una clínica de lactancia abierta al público a partir del 1.º de agosto, que incluirá consultas en las instalaciones como también oportunidades de telemedicina por parte de asesores de lactancia certificados de Intermountain Health.

La ubicación del Intermountain Health Cedar City Hospital es uno de los diez hospitales de Intermountain que ofrece este apoyo presencial. Este servicio tan necesario permite que un equipo de lactancia ayude a muchas madres a medida que transitan la lactancia materna. Dado que la mayoría de las madres vuelven a sus hogares dentro de las 24 horas luego de dar a luz, una vez que comienzan a cuidar a sus bebés en casa, muchas descubren que tienen preguntas o problemas en relación con la lactancia materna que no tenían cuando estaban en el hospital. Los asesores ayudan a las madres y a sus bebés en cualquier etapa de la lactancia materna.

El Cedar City Hospital tendrá citas disponibles de lunes a viernes entre las 10 a. m y las 2 p. m. con uno de sus cuatro asesores de lactancia para ayudar a abordar preocupaciones como el enganche, la posición, la mastitis, el dolor, las infecciones, la producción de leche, los problemas con la extracción de leche, el destete y más.

Kim Heaton, jefa de lactancia del Cedar City Hospital, decidió convertirse en asesora de lactancia a raíz de que, cuando buscó orientación luego de tener a su primer bebé, no logró encontrar la ayuda que necesitaba. 

Cuando dio a luz a su primer niño, Heaton dijo: “Nadie te explicaba realmente sobre la lactancia o el cuidado del bebé. Simplemente te daban el bebé. Te visitaba una enfermera, pero no recibías capacitación suficiente sobre la lactancia. Eso lo tenías que descifrar tú misma”.

Luego, Heaton añadió: “Es una gran parte del vínculo con mis niños. Quiero que sea más agradable para otras madres”.

De acuerdo con el Centro para el Control de Enfermedades, el sesenta por ciento de las madres no amamantan todo el tiempo que les gustaría. La clínica de lactancia del Cedar City Hospital pretende reducir esta estadística, ya que la lactancia materna proporciona beneficios de salud tanto para la madre como para el bebé. En el caso del bebé, proporciona una nutrición óptima, ayuda al sistema inmunitario, reduce el riesgo de alergias y mejora la salud digestiva. En el caso de la madre, la lactancia materna ayuda a establecer un vínculo emocional y a llevar a cabo la recuperación posparto.

Hoy, Heaton lidera un equipo de asesores capaces de crear una mejor experiencia y proporcionar la capacitación y el apoyo a la lactancia cuando la paciente lo necesita. Su meta es crear una experiencia positiva y saludable para la madre y el bebé.  Además, Heaton sostiene que la consulta de lactancia puede ayudar a las madres a no dejar de amamantar antes de lo planeado.

Para obtener más información sobre las consultas de lactancia virtuales o presenciales, visite el sitio web de apoyo de lactancia de Connect Care. Intermountain también tiene una clase virtual de lactancia disponible para los futuros padres y madres. Es una sesión de dos horas que se ofrece a menudo. Su costo es de $15. 

Puede programar una cita presencial o virtual con la clínica de lactancia del Cedar City Hospital en connect.intermountainhealth.org/utah-lactation-clinics.  

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For many new mothers, a lactation consultation can become a lifeline. That's why Intermountain Cedar City Hospital is expanding its services for new moms with a new lactation clinic.

The new Intermountain lactation clinic  includes onsite consulting, as well as telehealth opportunities from Intermountain Health board-certified lactation consultants.

The Intermountain Cedar City clinic is now one of ten Intermountain hospitals offering this in-person support. 

The much-needed service allows a lactation team to provide the help many moms seek as they navigate breastfeeding. Since most mothers go home within 24 hours of delivering many of them will find that once they start caring for their baby at home, they have questions, or issues with breastfeeding that didn’t exist while in the hospital. The consultants help moms and babies at any stage of breastfeeding.

Intermountain Cedar City Hospital will have available appointments Monday through Friday between 10 am - 2 pm, MT, with one of its four lactation consultants to help address concerns, including issues such  as latching, positioning, mastitis, pain, infection, milk supply, pumping issues, weaning, and more.

Kim Heaton, lacation lead for Intermountain Cedar City Hospital, chose to become a lactation consultant when she was looking for direction after she having her first baby and did not find the help she needed. 

“No one really came in and talked to you about lactation or how to watch your baby. They just gave you the baby.," said Heaton about when she delivered her first child. 
"They would have a nurse come see you but there wasn't a lot of training on breastfeeding. You just had to figure it out for yourself. It's a great bonding thing with my kids. I want to make it nicer for other moms.”

More tha n sixty percent of mothers do not breastfeed for as long as they intend, according to the Centers for Disease Control, . 

The Intermountain Cedar City Hospital Lactation Clinic hopes to reduce that statistic as breastfeeding provides health benefits for both mother and baby. 

For the newborn, breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition, immune system support, reduces the risk of allergies, and improves digestive health. For moms, breastfeeding helps with emotional bonding and postpartum recovery.

Now, Heaton is leading a team of consultants who can create a better experience and provide that training and lactation support whenever a patient needs it. 

Their goal is to create a positive and healthy experience for mother and baby.  In addition, Heaton says that lactation consultation can help moms from abandoning breastfeeding sooner than they planned.

For more information about virtual or in-person lactation consultations, visit the Connect Care lactation support webpage. Intermountain Health also has a virtual breastfeeding class available for expectant parents. It’s a one session, two-hour class and offered regularly. The cost is $15. 

In-person and virtual appointments can be made at the Intermountain Cedar City Hospital Lactation Clinic by visiting connect.intermountainhealth.org/utah-lactation-clinics.  

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