Categories

Categories

Working Together to Support Breastfeeding Parents

Working Together to Support Breastfeeding Parents

By Lisle Cole, Certified Lactation Counselor

Families have to make a lot of important decisions when they have a new baby, especially choosing how to feed the baby. Experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics – often referred to as “your baby’s doctors” – now suggest that babies continue to breastfeed through two years old or even longer.

Breastfeeding offers many health benefits for parents and their nursing babies: proven decreases in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), fewer ear infections, and overall better health. Of course, there may be challenges along the way. Some parents may be unsure about how their breastfeeding experience will turn out, they may have family members not supporting breastfeeding, and even babies that may not latch on. However, when the breastfeeding parent receives the support, information, and resources they need, breastfeeding is not only less frightening, but it can also become the happiest and most successful experience for them and their breastfed baby.

At Mary’s Center’s WIC Program in Washington, DC, we meet families where they are and assist them in securing resources that help the whole family thrive. All of our staff are trained in breastfeeding and are always available to provide the support parents and the entire family need in this process. We offer the following resources to growing families:

  • On-site nutritionists to assist our pregnant and breastfeeding participants in meeting their goals for a healthy outcome.
  • Breastfeeding counselors and certified lactation counselors to provide accurate breastfeeding information and techniques, which allows parents to gain the confidence to successfully breastfeed their babies.
  • Virtual meetings of the Beautiful Beginnings Club for pregnant and breastfeeding participants to discuss various breastfeeding topic and learn about community resources such as car seat programs and Help Me Grow.   
  • Access to Pacify, an app with 24-hour live support from certified lactation consultants.
  • Safe Sleep classes in English, Spanish, and Amharic every month to teach caregivers cutting-edge practices to keep their infant safe while sleeping.

Our WIC participants also have the unique opportunity to take advantage of Mary’s Center’s holistic service offerings, including medical, dental, behavioral health, and social services, as well as education and job training through Briya Public Charter School. These various forms of support assist many parents in managing and decreasing their stress, which can lead to longer duration of breastfeeding and better health outcomes.

Learn more about WIC at Mary’s Center and how you can apply for benefits here.