August is World Breastfeeding Awareness Month

August is World Breastfeeding Awareness Month. “Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers”, is the theme and it highlights Peer Helpers.  Every WIC clinic in Ohio, including at Marion Public Health (MPH), has a Peer Helper program which has proven to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates.

WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. It helps income eligible pregnant and breastfeeding women, women who recently had a baby, infants, and children up to age five who are at health risk due to inadequate nutrition.

Ohio’s Peer Helpers are women who often have been on the WIC program, have breastfeeding experience and live within the community they work in.  Trained Peer Helpers become the lifeline for mothers with breastfeeding questions and issues. According to The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, “The key to best breastfeeding practices is continued day-to-day support for the breastfeeding mother within her home and community.”

The Breastfeeding Awareness Month motto is Breastfeeding Support…It Takes a Village. Even when mothers are able to get off to a good start, all too often in the weeks after delivery there is a sharp decline in breastfeeding rates. In 2012 according to the Center for Disease Control’s Breastfeeding Report Card, 62 percent of Ohio babies are fed any breast milk, and only 11 percent of those babies are breastfed exclusively for six months as recommended.

“Breastfeeding has proven benefits for mother and baby. Please do your part in helping Marion County increase its breastfeeding rates by being supportive and accepting it as the norm,” urged Traci Kinsler, MPH Executive Director. “Thank a breastfeeding mom the next time you see one and let her know she is being a good role model for other moms who want to provide the best and most natural food for their infants. If you are a breastfeeding mom, or pumping, give yourself a pat on the back. You deserve it!”

MPH experts say that support for mothers from a wider circle is needed and that is where Peer Helpers can help make a difference. Krystal Siler CLC, Marion County WIC’s Peer Helper, was awarded Outstanding Peer Helper of the year in the state by the Ohio Lactation Consultant Association (OLCA). Marion County WIC’s Breastfeeding Coordinator/Nutritionist, Vicky Boyd RD, LD, IBCLC, nominated Krystal for this award.

Siler, a Marion native, has worked for Marion Public Health – WIC since 2010. Her role as a WIC Peer Helper is to help parents make an educated infant feeding decision based on evidence based information. She’s also a certified lactation counselor (CLC). CLC certification holders have demonstrated competence in the lactation skills, knowledge and attitudes that are essential to helping women in the United States and have agreed to comply with The Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice code of ethics.

Boyd, who lives in Caledonia, started with the WIC Program in 2000 in Springfield, OH. She works as a WIC Nutritionist, Breastfeeding Coordinator and International Board Certified Lactation Counselor (IBCLC). The IBCLC credential identifies a knowledgeable and experienced member of the maternal-child health team who has specialized skills in breastfeeding management and care.

The WIC staff at MPH strives to create community partnerships to form their village of support where they can send referrals and work collaboratively to provide best care for the clients served. WIC is dedicated to changing the normal and accepted way to feed an infant back to breastfeeding.

Another way MPH works to provide support to mothers is through the Marion County Breastfeeding Coalition. The Coalition meets bimonthly and works to make breastfeeding the norm by promotion, support, and protection of breastfeeding.

The Coalition recently received grant money from OLCA to purchase breastfeeding friendly discharge bags. Marion General Hospital (MGH) has begun distributing the bags.

If you are interested in being part of the coalition please e-mail Vicky Boyd RD, LD, IBCLC at [email protected].

If you have breastfeeding questions or would like more information about Marion Public Health – Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program please call (740)383-5533. WIC is open Monday –Friday, 8 am-4:30pm.