Coney Island Hospital Opens Lactation Lounge For New Mothers

New mothers have a place to call their own at Coney Island Hospital.

Coney Island Hospital opened a dedicated lactation/breastfeeding area for new mothers this week. The space is a collaboration between the hospital and Borough President Eric Adams, whose office says it is working to enhance services for families across the borough.

The lactation lounge will be open to all breastfeeding mothers, including patients, visitors, and hospital employees, “to provide privacy, support, and comfort,” the hospital said in a statement.

Coney Island Hospital actively promotes breastfeeding, for the health of newborns and mothers alike. The hospital notes that breastfeeding reduces the risk of acute infection and communicable diseases for newborns, and reduces the risks of breast and uterine cancer later in life for mothers.

The hospital’s two room lactation lounge has been furnished with donations, such as gilders and changing tables, from Delta Children, a nursery and children’s furniture manufacturer which got its start in Brooklyn. Coney Island Hospital says that it is the first public hospital to partner with Delta Children to promote breastfeeding.

Anthony Rajkumar, CEO of Coney Island Hospital, cut the ribbon for the lactation lounge this week with Joseph Shamie, President of Delta Children, and Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna.

“We are pleased to add this important enhancement to NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island, which reflects our ongoing commitment to improving support for new mothers,” said Rajkumar.

“Being a new mother is an enormous challenge, and we hope our Lactation Lounge will give them one less thing to worry about,” he added.

In 2015, almost 20,000 babies were delivered at the eleven hospitals affiliated with the NYC Health & Hospitals Corporation, including Coney Island Hospital.