“Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers” Kicks off August 1st

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 170 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. The theme for the week is “Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers”, and it highlights the importance of breastfeeding peer counselors in helping breastfeeding families be successful.  

Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Rachel Snider, also a Certified Breastfeeding Educator has been with the health center since 2009. Rachel works closely with the WIC participants and meets with each mom and family several times during their pregnancy.  In talking with the moms and families, she teaches them about not only the benefits of breastfeeding, but also many of the helpful hints and techniques of the “how” to breastfeed. 

Rachel offers a breastfeeding class at the health center and also at Hedrick Medical Center on a regular monthly basis. We have mini grants available for businesses that want to become a designated breastfeeding friendly worksite, to help them set up a lactation room for their employees.  So far, we have helped three businesses in our community to set up areas for their breastfeeding staff.  They are:  HyVee, Chillicothe Correctional Center, and Morningside Center.

Also this year, Rachel is hosting “The Big Latch ON!” Thousands of breastfeeding women and their babies/children across the world will gather in their own communities to take part in the Big Latch On, a synchronized breastfeeding event in multiple locations. Our local Big Latch On will take place at Chillicothe Farmers Market West side of the Courthouse on Saturday, August 3rd at 10 a.m.  For more information, call Rachel at 660-247-5653.

Livingston County Health Center, a Breastfeeding Friendly WIC Clinic, offers a wide range of services for breastfeeding mom’s and families in our community. We have a private nursing nook that mothers can feed their babies in if they are out and about or after shots. We also offer breast pumps to moms that are on WIC, and with the Maternal Healthy Children Grant we are now also able to rent pumps, for a nominal fee, to breastfeeding mom’s in our community that are not on the WIC program.

We are excited to be a part of our community’s breastfeeding support services. If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to call Anita Perry, RN, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Rachel Snider WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor and Certified Breastfeeding Educator.

The Health Center is also doing its annual media awareness campaign featuring local breastfeeding moms and their babies.  This year, photographer Juliane Sykes volunteered to shoot the portraits, which will also be used in breastfeeding education materials and displayed at our location.

Anyone who would like more information about the health center’s Breastfeeding Support Program should call 646-5506 and ask to speak to Anita Perry or Rachel Snider.

Health Center to Offer Weight Loss & Wellness Program

 

 

Open registration begins August 5th for Livingston County Health Center’s 8 week Weight Loss & Wellness program for adults who would like to get educated about improving their level of health and lose a few pounds along the way.

 
The Weight Loss & Wellness program focuses on two of the more important aspects of a healthy lifestyle:  nutrition and activity. It’s not a “diet” but rather a comprehensive program that emphasizes a healthy lifestyle approach to weight management by integrating fitness, nutrition and the behavioral aspects of eating.  Through this program, participants will experience an enhancement of their quality of life.
 
Each participant completes a Health Survey, Wellness Screening and receives an individual consultation, after which, educational support will be offered for a eight week session, beginning Wednesday, September 11^th.

The Wellness Screening component of the program includes a heart health screen including measurement of blood pressure, cholesterol, lipids and glucose and body mass index to determine risk for heart disease.  Participants meet individually with a health center RN to review screening results and set individual goals for improvement.  Each week, participants weigh in and educational classes are held every other week. 

The goal for the participants completing the program is to lose 2% of their body weight by the end of the program and/or have established a regular activity/exercise routine of three times a week for at least 30 minutes a day.  The program will continue to follow up on participants, offering a subsequent wellness screening and evaluation of continued progress after the program ends. 

 

Basic blood work is required before beginning the program.  If you would like to receive a complete panel at an affordable cost, attend the July 31^st Adult Blood Draw Clinic at the health center, from 7 a.m. To 10 a.m. If you’ve had blood work done in the last year, simply bring a copy of those results to put on file.   Those interested in being a part of the September session of Weight Loss & Wellness should call 646-5506 to set up an appointment with Program Coordinator Anita Perry, RN or come by the health center office at 800 Adam Drive to register. Registration is limited, so don’t wait if you think this is something you should to try to get your wellness habits back on track!  If you decide later you want to take part, don’t hesitate to call and visit with Anita about joining.

Please check with your doctor before significantly changing your diet or starting a new exercise regimen.

Need Help Managing Your Diabetes?

 

 

People with diabetes can't just take pills or insulin in the morning, and then forget about their health the rest of the day.

Certified Diabetes Educator Anita Perry is happy to meet privately with  people living with diabetes to give them the support and education they need to manage their condition.

Clients are welcome to bring a support person who will be assisting in their care, or just giving moral support.  If meeting during business hours isn’t an option, Anita is happy to work with her patients on a time that will work.

Anita is also available for follow up consultations to keep her patients on track.  Call 646-5506 to find out more.

 

 

 

Walk Chillicothe Labor Day 2K Walk/5K Run Announced

Proceeds to Benefit North Missouri Center for Youth & Families

July 18th , 2013:  Livingston County Health Center would like to announce their second annual Walk Chillicothe  Labor Day 2K Fun Walk and 5K Competitive Race on Saturday, August 31st at Simpson Park.  

The race begins at 7:30 a.m. in Simpson Park, with registration open at 7 a.m.  There will be a charge to register this year, as grant funding from the Heartland Foundation has ended.  The cost to register will be $15 before August 16^th, and $30 after that date.  Those who pre-register before August 16th are guaranteed a free t-shirt.  Participants can register up to the day of the race, but the health center cannot guarantee a shirt, but will try to accommodate.

Participants can pre-register by picking up a form at the health center, located at 800 Adam Drive or printing their own from our website at livcohealthcenter.com.  Payment must accompany the registration form.

Walk Chillicothe and the sponsors of the race would like to encourage kids, adults, families, well behaved dogs on a leash and handicapped residents to join in the Labor Day Race.   Just-for-fun prizes will be awarded in the Fun Walk, and for those who wish to compete in the 5K Run, medals will be awarded in various classes.

Proceeds from this year’s race will be donated to the North Missouri Center for Youth and Families, a PowerUP! Afterschool Program for Youth here in Chillicothe. 

The health center has continued the efforts of the Walk Chillicothe project in order to plant the seed that walking is possible for everyone and to offer an easy solution for sedentary people to take the first step to active living.  Labor Day also marks the start of the Fall Walking Challenge.   Registration for the Fall Challenge will begin August 12^th, with signups welcomed up to the day of the race.

For more information about the Labor Day Race, or to print out a registration form, visit our website at www.livcohealthcenter.com or our Facebook page at LivingstonCounty HealthCenter.  Call 646-5506 with any questions.

All services of the health center are provided on a non-discriminatory basis.

Protect the Ones You Love: Drowning

We all want to keep our children safe and secure and help them live to their full potential.

 

Knowing how to prevent leading causes of child injury, like drowning, is a step toward this goal.

Every day, about ten people die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger.

Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States.

The main factors that affect drowning risk are lack of swimming ability, lack of barriers to prevent unsupervised water access, lack of close supervision while swimming, location, failure to wear life jackets, alcohol use, and seizure disorders.

 When most of us are enjoying time at the pool or beach, injuries aren’t the first thing on our minds. Yet, drownings are the leading cause of injury death for young children ages 1 to 4, and three children die every day as a result of drowning.

 Drowning can happen quickly and quietly anywhere there is water (such as bathtubs, swimming pools, buckets), and even in the presence of lifeguards.

 Thankfully, parents can play a key role in protecting the children they love from drowning.

 Prevention Tips

 Learn life-saving skills.  Everyone should know the basics of swimming (floating, moving through the water) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

 Supervise When in or Around Water. Designate a responsible adult to watch young children while swimming or playing in or around water. Supervisors of preschool children should provide “touch supervision”, be close enough to reach the child at all times.

 Fence it off. Install a four–sided isolation fence, with self–closing and self–latching gates, around backyard swimming pools. This can help keep children away from the area when they aren’t supposed to be swimming. Pool fences should completely separate the house and play area from the pool.

 

Make life jackets a "must." Make sure kids wear life jackets in and around natural bodies of water, such as lakes or the ocean, even if they know how to swim. Life jackets can be used in and around pools for weaker swimmers too.  It cannot be stressed enough that children should wear a life jacket EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY ARE IN THE WATER.  Think of how devastating it would be for your child to drown when you could have made sure they were protected by a life jacket.  Even if your child is older, things happen in the water, especially when participating in water sports, which might leave the child incapacitated and unable to save themselves.

 Be on the look out. When kids are in or near water (including bathtubs), closely supervise them at all times. Because drowning occurs quickly and quietly, adults watching kids in or near water should avoid distracting activities like playing cards, reading books, talking or texting on the phone, and using alcohol or drugs.  Adults should be paying attention, even when lifeguards are on duty.   

 

Be vigilant about safety around the water.  It only takes a moment to lose a loved one, but a lifetime to wonder if you could have prevented a drowning death.

 Source: CDC.

Support Program Changes to Meet Needs of Local Residents

July 11, 2013:  Livingston County Health Center would like to announce that all future Diabetes Education classes for the year have been cancelled, due to lack of attendance.  At the same time, the we would like for our residents living with diabetes to be aware that we offer individual diabetes counseling by appointment at our office, located at 800 Adam Drive.

Certified Diabetes Educator Anita Perry is happy to meet privately with those newly diagnosed, struggling with managing their condition or just might need a refresher course to better control their symptoms.   Clients are welcome to bring a support person, such as a spouse, who will be assisting in their care, or just giving moral support.  If meeting during business hours isn’t an option, Anita is happy to work with her patients on a time that will work.

People with diabetes, unlike those with many other medical problems, can't just take pills or insulin in the morning, and then forget about their health the rest of the day. Differences in diet, exercise levels, stress and other factors may all affect blood sugar levels.  The more people with diabetes learn how these factors affect them, the better control they will be able to achieve.  Therefore, as the experts know and will tell you, despite all the advances in diabetes treatment, education remains the cornerstone of diabetes management.

For more information about individual diabetes counseling, call our office at 646-5506 and ask to speak to our Certified Diabetes Educator, Anita Perry.

All services of the health center are provided on a non-discriminatory basis.

The Next Adult Blood Draw Clinic

 

ADULT BLOOD DRAW CLINIC

Wednesday,

July 31st
7:00-10:00 A.M.

CBC/Chem Profile-$25

Liver Enzymes, Complete Cholesterol (Lipid) Profile, Thyroid Function, Blood Sugar, Complete Blood Count

PSA- $8

Prostate Cancer Marker for Men - Recommended around age 50 or Periodically During Treatment

Hemoglobin A1C-$7

Long Term Blood Sugar

Vitamin D- $10

Current research Links Vitamin D deficiency as a  Factor in the Development of Several Health Conditions.

All tests require fasting the night before. 

For more information Call 646-5506.

Beware of Bugs!

 

 

Warmer temperatures aren't just attractive to people, but to mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus; ticks can transmit Lyme disease and other serious infections; and fleas can transmit plague.

To prevent these illnesses, use an appropriate insect and tick repellent and apply it properly. Prime mosquito-biting hours are usually dusk to dawn, but ticks are out at all times. Young ticks are so small that they can be difficult to see, but both young and adult ticks hungrily look to animals and sometimes people to bite.

To keep ticks at a distance, avoid tick-infested areas (especially places with leaf-litter and high grasses) and use repellent containing 20% DEET. You can also treat clothing with the repellent, Permethrin, (which protects through several washings) or purchase clothing that is pre-treated with Permethrin. Always follow the directions on repellent packaging.

After coming indoors, shower as soon as possible and check your body for ticks. Make sure that your children also bathe or shower and get checked for ticks.

Wash and tumble dry your clothing and check your pets for ticks. If you find an attached tick, don't panic, ticks are easy to remove with a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. Consult your healthcare provider if you develop a rash, fever, body aches, or fatigue in the 1-3 weeks following a bite. It could be any number of illnesses.

Pesticides, vegetation-free play areas, and landscaping techniques for tick-free zones can also help limit your exposure to ticks and other insects.

Source: Centers for Disease Control

 

Keep Your Picnic Safe

 

 Author: Richard Smith, Environmental Public Health Specialist III

 

Summer is the time for barbecues and picnics. Picnics can take on many forms, such as the community picnic, friends and neighbors, tailgate parties, or ball games. There is also one sure thing at every picnic-lots of good food and good company.  The one guest you don’t want to invite is food borne bacteria. You can't see them, you can't taste them - but you sure can feel them if illness occurs hours or days later. 

Each year, about one in every ten Americans has an illness caused by food. Most of these cases result in simple stomachaches or diarrhea. If you prepare and then store foods properly, they will never leave their calling card behind. It's up to you to select, store, prepare, and then serve safe foods for you and your family.

 

    * As always, wash hands and work areas before preparing food. 

    * Plan your menu with an eye to safe food handling. Cook foods in plenty of time to thoroughly chill them in shallow containers in the refrigerator.      

    * Have enough coolers with ice or frozen gel packs in which to store the perishable foods like meat, poultry, fish, eggs and salads. You want to keep the food at 41 degrees F. Pack foods right from the refrigerator into the coolers.      

    * Don't put the cooler in the car trunk; carry it inside an air-conditioned car. At picnics, keep the cooler in the shade and keep the lid closed. Replenish the ice if it melts.

      

    * Use a separate cooler for drinks so the one containing the food won't constantly be opened and closed.  Don’t use the ice in your food cooler for drinks, there is a risk of cross contamination by leaking raw or packaged foods like hot dogs.  Always use clean ice for drinks.      

    * Find out if there's a source of safe drinking water at your destination. If not, bring water for preparation and cleaning; or pack clean, wet, disposable cloths or moist towelettes and paper towels for cleaning hands and surfaces. Cross-contamination during preparation, grilling, and serving food is a prime cause of food borne illness.

 

    *   Pack raw meats, poultry, or seafood on the bottom of the cooler. This will reduce the risk of them dripping on other foods. Pack coolers until they are full. A full cooler will stay cold longer than one that is partially full. 

    *   If you plan on getting takeout foods such as fried chicken, eat them within an hour of pick up. 

    *   Do not partially grill extra meat or poultry to use later. Once you begin, cook until completely done to assure bacteria are destroyed. Grill raw poultry until the juices run clear and there is no pink. Hamburger should not be pink in the center. 

    *   When taking food off the grill, don't put the cooked items on the same platter which held the raw meat unless you have washed the platter in between uses.  This cannot be stressed enough, and it is a very common mistake made in many households.  It doesn’t take that long to wash the plate and bring it back out to serve the meat.      

    * Two Hour Rule.  Don't leave perishable food unrefrigerated for more than two hours. Put perishable foods back in the cooler or refrigerator as soon as you finish eating. Don't leave them out while you go for a swim or a hike, and don't leave them out all afternoon to nibble on.  If something has been left out and you’ve lost track of time, either toss it as a precaution, or check it with a food thermometer.  Again, cold foods should be 41 degrees or below. 

    *   Chances are some picnic leftovers will have been sitting out for more than an hour or two. Discard these leftovers. Cold foods that were kept in a cooler that still has ice may be safe. If the ice has melted, the food should be discarded. 

Be sure to enjoy your summer and take part in as many outdoor celebrations as you’d like. The important point is to have safe and healthy food at these get-togethers, not food that can cause food borne illness. Always prepare and store food properly!

 

Source: USDA

July Breastfeeding Mom of the Month

Hi, my name is Juliane Sykes and I love providing for my child the way God intended, by breastfeeding!  

Before I even had my child I knew I was going to breastfeed him. I always knew it was good for babies to be breast fed, but after getting pregnant I did what almost every mommy-to-be does, I researched! What I found was astonishing!   

Here are some of the facts that meant a lot to me:  

-Breastfed children have a 20 percent lower risk of dying between the ages of 28 days and 1 year.  

-The immune factors in breast milk guard against invading germs and result in a natural buildup in babies of protections against many forms of illness.  

-Breastfeeding may protect babies from developing allergies.  

-Research has demonstrated a connection between breastfeeding and cognitive development (greater intelligence)  

-Recent studies show a strong link between breastfeeding and a lower incidence of obesity as a teen or adult.  

-The longer women breastfeed, the greater the mother’s protection against breast and ovarian cancers.  

So as you can see, the benefits of breastfeeding are HUGE! But I worried, how was I supposed to feed him in public, how would he bond with my husband if he wasn't the one feeding him, and what if I couldn't produce enough to satisfy him?

 

After 41 long weeks our son, Jonathan Beckett Sykes arrived! He was born late in the evening and the breastfeeding consultant was not in. Our first night of feeding was all on me and I was scared. I'm not going to say it was easy, it was actually really hard. But by morning time I had developed a bond with my son that I never thought I could feel before. He needed me, and I now needed him.  

Every time he nursed we got better and better. Now, at two months old we are pro's. My fears were soon a distant memory. When my child his hungry, I feed him no matter where we are, I make sure I include my husband in feedings by letting him burp Jon Beckett after he eats, and with lots of support from the Livingston County Breastfeeding Counselor I know my body will provide for my child. But my biggest supporter is my son, every time he looks up at me and flashes a smile it makes my heart melt and I know he knows I am doing what is best for him.  

If I could give any words of advice to mommies-to-be or new mommies who have just started breastfeeding, it would be not to be ashamed of breastfeeding your child. You might feel embarrassed or awkward and that is understandable. I feel like society has put that stigma on breastfeeding. But there is nothing more natural than breastfeeding your child. God gave women the ability to birth children. He also gave women a way to provide for the children they bring into this world, their breasts.

 

Think of it this way: "If God Almighty came to you and said, 'I myself have designed a special food that will strengthen your baby’s body and develop his brain, which will comfort him and cheer his heart, and lay the foundation for his lifetime health and well-being. I have given this food into your keeping; I have placed it in your body; it is my loving provision for your child'—who would reply, 'No thanks, no divine gifts, I’d rather give him a can of Similac'?" -Juli Loesch Wiley