Posted: 8/6/2015
Free event offers information, support for all new mothers and families
While evidence of the benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers continues to grow, working moms face challenges as they return to their jobs.
That’s why this week’s event at Parkland Memorial Hospital in observance of Annual World Breastfeeding Week is focusing not only on educating moms and their families about the importance of breastfeeding, but also supporting them as they make the transition back to work. The theme of the free event is “Working and Breastfeeding, Let’s Make It Work.”
The annual World Breastfeeding Week Fair will take place from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Aug. 6, 2015 in the MacGregor W. Day Auditorium, located on the first floor of Parkland Memorial Hospital, 5201 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, 75235. Fair organizers say the event promises to be bigger than ever. No registration is required and the fair is open to the public. World Breastfeeding Week is observed globally from Aug. 1-7.
“The fair has evolved from a couple of information tables to a large event with more than 20 vendor and informational booths,” said Valencia Moore, RN, IBCLC, Lactation Consultant Supervisor at Parkland.
Studies have shown that infants who breastfeed benefit from easy digestion, are protected from illness and have lower risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). For mothers, breastfeeding has been shown to lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and postpartum depression.
That’s why breastfeeding is recommended by entities such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Surgeon General, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Nurse-Midwives and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We really want to bring the benefits of breastfeeding to the forefront,” Moore said. “We want breastfeeding to become the norm instead of formula feeding.”
In addition to educating mothers delivering their babies at Parkland, Moore said, Parkland staff worked for years to obtain the Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Designation, which benefits employees, their families and an entire workforce. Such facilities provide private lactation space along with the availability of lactation consultants which enables mothers to return to work while still providing breast milk to their babies.
The Aug. 6 fair is just a part of Parkland’s efforts to provide a supportive environment for breastfeeding mothers. Parkland also conducts breastfeeding classes in both English and Spanish on the first Saturday of every month. For more information about these classes and to register, call 214.590.2323.