Contact: Susan Barber Lindquist
715-838-3012
barberlindquist.susan@mayo.edu
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The Chippewa Valley Breastfeeding Taskforce is hosting a 2010 World Breastfeeding Week event from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 6 and 7, at the Luther Midelfort kiosk at Oakwood Mall.
The event is part of World Breastfeeding Week, Aug. 1 through 7. This year’s theme is “Breastfeeding: Just 10 Steps! The Baby Friendly Way.”
According to UNICEF and the World Health Organization, hospitals that focus on the following 10 steps directly increase breast-feeding rates and duration, affecting health outcomes of mothers and infants:
1. Have a written breast-feeding policy for all health care staff.
2. Train all staff in skills necessary to implement the policy.
3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breast-feeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breast-feeding within a half hour of birth.
5. Show mothers how to breast-feed and maintain lactation even if they are separated from their infants.
6. Do not give newborn infants food or drink other than breast milk unless medically indicated.
7. Practice rooming in — allowing mothers and infants to remain together — 24 hours a day.
8. Encourage breast-feeding on demand.
9. Give no pacifiers to breast-feeding infants.
10. Foster the establishment of breast-feeding support groups, and refer mothers to them on discharge.
At the Chippewa Valley Breastfeeding Taskforce event, participants can:
• Learn about local breast-feeding resources
• Ask local lactation specialists breast-feeding topics
• Enter to win door prizes
• Pick up free educational materials on breast-feeding topics:
o Benefits for you, your baby and the environment
o Making enough milk for your baby
o Breast milk storage
o Breast-feeding at work or school
o Federal and state laws to protect breast-feeding women
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In partnership with Mayo Clinic, Luther Midelfort offers a full range of quality medical services, including cardiac and orthopedic surgery, cancer and trauma care programs. Through a network of community-based health care providers in west-central Wisconsin, Luther Midelfort provides access to experts close to home.
