Medela Introduces Calmita® to the US Hospital Market

MCHENRY, Ill., June 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Breastfeeding in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be uniquely challenging.  In an effort to support moms and babies in the NICU, Medela has announced that Calmita, its research-based hospital feeding solution, will now be available in the U.S. hospital market.

Featuring technology that enables newborns to apply their natural feeding behavior, Calmita helps to develop their ability to breastfeed. Calmita is designed with an integrated vacuum-controlled valve that allows the infant to decide when to drink and when to pause, which creates their own sucking rhythm to efficiently remove just the right amount of milk at a pace that is right for them. Research findings have shown that preterm infants who were fed using Calmita had a significant increase in breastfeeding in the hospital and met discharge criteria significantly earlier than those fed with a conventional teat.[i] [ii]

"As part of our commitment to supporting every mother's ability to provide breast milk to her baby, we're proud to include Calmita to our hospital product portfolio," says Melissa Gonzales, managing director for Medela in the U.S. market. "With Calmita, we can provide a solution that supports earlier successful feedings in the hospital, which can shorten length of hospital stays, reduce costs, and more importantly, encourage bonding with baby."

Difficulties with breastfeeding can occur with preterm infants who may not have fully developed the ability to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing, or the neuromuscular ability to remove milk from the breast directly.[iii] For infants fed orally, there is greater physiological stability during breastfeeding compared to bottle feeding with a conventional nipple, as breastfeeding requires the infant's natural feeding behavior.[iv] [v] Unlike conventional nipples, Calmita allows the infant to apply their natural feeding behavior. This allows them to create their own sucking rhythm, thereby efficiently removing just the right amount of milk at a pace that is right for them.

To learn more about Calmita and intraoral feeding in the hospital, visit http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/for-professionals.

About Medela

Founded in 1961, Medela is led by Michael Larsson and concentrates on two business units: "Human Milk," providing research-based breast milk feeding solutions, and "Healthcare," engineering and manufacturing medical vacuum technology solutions. Medela is headquartered in Switzerland and has 18 subsidiaries, distributing its products to more than 100 countries throughout the world. For more information, visit www.Medela.com. 

About Medela LLC

Medela's US-based manufacturing and development facility is headquartered in McHenry, Illinois. Every year, more than one million mothers in the U.S. rely on Medela's technology. As the #1 breast pump brand*, Medela provides the best in research-based breast milk feeding products and clinical education to support moms' breast milk feeding journey. The company is fully dedicated to supporting mothers so that they can provide breast milk to their baby for as long as they choose. For more information, visit www.MedelaBreastfeedingUS.com.

*QuintilesIMS ProVoice Survey; Nov-Oct 2016.

Medela wordmark and logo and Calmita are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

[i] Simmer K., Kok, C., Nancarrow, K., Hepworth, A.R., & Geddes DT. Novel feeding system to promote establishment of breastfeeds after preterm birth: A randomized controlled trial. J Perinatol 36, 210–215 (2016).

[ii] Geddes, D.T., et al. ISRHML Conference (2012).

[iii] McGuire,W., Henderson,G., & Fowlie,P.W. Feeding the preterm infant. BMJ 329, 1227–1230 (2004).

[iv] Howard,C.R. et al. Physiologic stability of newborns during cup- and bottle-feeding. Pediatrics 104, 1204–1207 (1999).

[v] Aguayo, J. Maternal lactation for preterm newborn infants. Early Hum Dev 65 Suppl, S19-S29 (2001).

SOURCE Medela

Related Links

http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com

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