“Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal-For Life” Kicked off August 1st

Celebrated every year in more than 170 countries, World Breastfeeding Week aims to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world.  World Breastfeeding Week will be celebrated this year, August 1-7, 2014.  This year’s theme acknowledges that when mothers and babies succeed in their breastfeeding plans, they can enjoy a lifetime of benefits.

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.

Anita Perry, RN, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant leads the Breastfeeding Support Program at the health center.  She has steadily added services and improvements to our offerings through various grants.  The health center offers a breastfeeding class at the health center and also at Hedrick Medical Center on a regular monthly basis.

Thanks to mini grants through the state WIC (Women, Infants & Children Program) several local businesses have taken steps to become designated as breastfeeding friendly worksites by setting up a lactation room for their employees and having a supportive atmosphere at the business.

Hospital grade breast pumps are available on loan to both WIC participants and local residents, to encourage mothers to keep breastfeeding after returning to work.

Breastfeeding Peer Counselors, Rachel Snider and Amanda Kline work closely with WIC participants and meets with each mom and family several times during their pregnancy.  In talking with the moms and families, they teach not only about the benefits of breastfeeding, but also many of the helpful hints and techniques of the “how” to breastfeed. 

To celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness, the Health Center is also doing its annual media awareness campaign featuring local breastfeeding moms and their babies. 

A group of local breastfeeding moms organized a “Normalizing Nursing in Public” event at the Chillicothe Farmer’s Market on Saturday, August 2^nd.   Thousands of breastfeeding women and their babies/children across the world gather in their own communities to take part a synchronized breastfeeding each year.  

The health center’s Breastfeeding Support Group is also hosting a movie premiere of “The Milky Way” on Saturday, August 9^th at the health center.  Guests should arrive at 6 and the movie will begin at 6:30. There will be popcorn, snacks, drinks & door prizes for those who attend.

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 or Amanda Kline, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor.

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.