The Washington County Women, Infants and Children program will celebrate World Breastfeeding Week Aug. 1 to 7.
The 2016 World Breastfeeding Week theme, “Breastfeeding: A Key to Sustainable Development,” focuses on the importance of breastfeeding as a key element in getting the community to think about the value of children’s wellbeing from the start of life.
The WIC program has planned a number of activities to celebrate breastfeeding during August. Displays in the Cottage Grove, Forest Lake, and Stillwater clinics will focus on the promotion and support of breastfeeding families in the community. WIC will also have displays with information in the Cottage Grove, Forest Lake, Stillwater, and Woodbury libraries. During August, pregnant and breastfeeding moms will receive additional promotional and resource information.
Eighty-three percent of women who participate in the Washington County WIC program start off breastfeeding their babies, according to Samantha O’Dell, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator.
“Washington County WIC has been recognized by the Minnesota Department of Health for meeting the Healthy People 2020 Objective of 81.9 percent breastfeeding initiation,” O’Dell said. “WIC staff members are dedicated to empowering and supporting breastfeeding families to help them reach their individual goals.”
Additional support for breastfeeding in the community comes through the help of the Washington County Breastfeeding Coalition. Partners from public health, hospitals, clinics, and allied organizations provide up-to-date resources for patient education, professional training and multi-language resources. “We truly are fortunate to have a dedicated, passionate group of breastfeeding advocates as part of our coalition,” Washington County WIC Program Coordinator Maggie Domski said.
For more information on breastfeeding or the WIC program, contact the Washington County Department of Public Health and Environment at 651-430-6655, PHE@co.washington.mn.us or www.livinghealthywc.org/Breastfeeding.html.