Czech hospitals face challenges in providing postpartum and lactation support

Benešov Hospital has launched a new lactation clinic to support both pregnant women and new mothers. The service provides individual consultations with certified lactation specialists to assist with breastfeeding techniques, positioning, and common complications such as milk retention or pain. The clinic also offers guidance on milk expression, storage, and psychological support for the demanding early weeks of motherhood.

While new policies in the Czech Republic aim to provide automatic referrals for three home visits by midwives, demand is currently outstripping supply. A survey by the Union of Midwives found that 88 percent of women surveyed wanted to use the service, yet approximately one-third of women could not secure even a single visit due to hospital capacity constraints.

Major facilities, including the Hospital of the Merciful Brothers in Brno and Brno University Hospital, are working to address these shortages. Hospitals report that they are actively recruiting new midwives to expand the frequency and availability of postpartum home visits to meet the high level of interest from new mothers.