Busting Breastfeeding Myths
Lactation and breastfeeding are a unique experience for every parent and infant. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital busts myths and shares new evidenced-based information.
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital is committed to providing the highest quality patient care and safety.
The Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Mass General is committed to reducing postpartum readmission rates and continually improving the obstetric care and safety of our patients.
Within the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, a team of physicians, nurses and administrative staff continually reviews our processes and practices, and manages initiatives to improve the quality of care we provide to our patients.
Reducing the rates of readmission to the hospital after giving birth is a priority for our quality and safety team. Mass General has postpartum readmission rates that compare favorably to a national benchmark, but the team, in coordination with other clinicians and caregivers, has instituted a number of measures to further reduce these rates.
Each obstetric patient’s care is managed by a multidisciplinary group, including obstetricians, certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, nurses and representatives from case management, lactation and social work. Care teams meet daily to discuss individual cases and treatment.
An attending registered nurse meets with all patients on the Newborn Family Unit to help ensure that the care they receive throughout their hospital stay is well-coordinated and seamless.
For patients requiring a cesarean section, we use a new preoperative preparation that may better maintain sterility in the operative field, and keeps patients warmer and drier during surgery, which can reduce the rate of infection.
Once new mothers are discharged from Mass General, our nurses maintain contact with them. An obstetric inpatient nurse will call within 24-48 hours of discharge to evaluate well-being and answer questions about discharge instructions. An obstetric outpatient nurse, often the same nurse who was involved in the patient’s prenatal care, will call within 7-10 days of delivery to evaluate continued well-being, answer questions and help schedule follow-up visits, if necessary.
By coordinating multidisciplinary care throughout a patient’s stay at Mass General and her return home from the hospital, we strive to identify potential problems and address them before they affect a patient’s health, the health of her baby or the quality of their care.
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mass General has advanced the science and the quality of care for patients since 1891.
We work hard to provide our patients with the highest quality care possible. Learn about our performance and how we compare to other institutions.
Lactation and breastfeeding are a unique experience for every parent and infant. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital busts myths and shares new evidenced-based information.
Read about what the new FDA approval of an over-the-counter birth control pill means for you, with insights from physicians in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr. Ortega talks about what drew him to this specialty, his new practice in Danvers and his research that aims to help patients recover faster following surgery.
Read answers to the top 10 questions from patients about fertility, IVF, egg-freezing, and more from reproductive specialists and nurses at the Mass General Fertility Center.
Read this question-and-answer article featuring Allison Gockley, MD, a gynecologic oncologist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Mass General Cancer Center.
During the summer of 2021, Caroline and her husband, Ryan, found out they were expecting a daughter, due on St. Patrick’s Day.
The Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Mass General consistently ranks among the best women's health care providers in the country, offering innovative treatments from leading experts in obstetrics, gynecology, infertility, cancer, and urogynecology. Learn more about our department.