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Breastfeeding Promotion & Support
Promoting and supporting breastfeeding is
"Investing in California's Future." Breastfeeding is the best
investment we can make in our children's health. In 1997, Orange
County ranked 50th among all counties in California for
exclusively breastfeeding.
Many women understand the importance of
breastfeeding and choose to breastfeed their infant at birth.
However data obtained from a newborn screening form revealed that
a significant number do not continue this healthy practice for a
variety of reasons. Preliminary data from the Pregnancy Risk
Assessment Monitoring Program (PRAMS) show that 66% of the mothers
sampled initiated breastfeeding, yet only 18% exclusively
breastfeed for more than eight weeks.
What is being done to improve these
breastfeeding statistics?
County Wide:
To help address this issue, Nutrition Services and others
from the community have formed the Orange County Breastfeeding
Coalition. The group consists of doctors, dietitians, nurses,
lactation consultants/ educators and other health professionals.
The group uses the expertise and diversity of its members to
educate the community about the benefits of breastfeeding. Examples of the Orange County Breastfeeding Coalition activities
include:
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Professional Education - Educate health care providers, medical
students and nursing students.
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Public Education - Increase public awareness of breastfeeding
through education and outreach.
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Workplace - Conduct surveys on breastfeeding and work
relationships.
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Mother-to-Mother Support - Provide and up-to-date Breastfeeding
Resources Directory.
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Research - Collect baseline data on breastfeeding practices.
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World Breastfeeding Week, Celebrate the first week of August
(August 1 - 7) with different activities to promote breastfeeding.
During the first three years of operation the Coalition in
collaboration with OCHCA conducted a survey of twenty Orange
County Hospitals and over 80 businesses to find out about their
breastfeeding promotion and support practices.
If you need further information or would like to help in promoting
and supporting breastfeeding, please contact:
The Orange County Breastfeeding Coalition Liaison:
Laurence J. Obaid - (714) 834-7986
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Breastfeeding Helpline - (714) 834-8363 |
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Breastfeeding Times Newsletter |
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Several Activities are scheduled every year for World Breastfeeding Week
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Displays in bookstores and libraries
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Display at the County Hall of Administration
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Displays in hospitals
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Visits to selected ob/gyn physicians
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Distribution of promotional flyers through Santa Ana Resource Network
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Letters to selected businesses asking them to include a breastfeeding message with the employee's paycheck during the month of August. A camera ready copy of two breastfeeding messages is attached to the letter
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Breastfeeding Resource List
[PDF format]
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Working in collaboration with Maternal and Child Health to develop and administer a comprehensive survey to find out reasons why some women choose to breastfeed while others do not. The results will be used to develop plans to reduce barriers to breastfeeding |
For County employees:
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Free access to a Certified Lactation Educator
5 days a week
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Lactation lounge at 17th Street
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Breastfeeding Reference Helpline
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Lending library with books and videos
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Breastfeeding Resource List
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Breastfeeding Times Newsletter
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Breastfeeding pamphlets and other educational
materials
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Technical assistance to anyone who would like
to establish a lactation lounge in their building
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Reference list and website addresses provided
on request
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Breastfeeding information packet being
developed for employees going on Maternity Leave
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Breastfeeding information packet being
developed to help supervisors support their breastfeeding
employees returning to work
For WIC participants:
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Breastfeeding education and support prenatal
and postpartum
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Series of (3) three breastfeeding prenatal
classes
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Postpartum group education
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Individual breastfeeding counseling
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Access to electric, manual and pedal breast
pumps
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Breastfeeding handouts available in (3) three
languages
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Breastfeeding Helpline
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Breastfeeding friendly clinic setting
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Monthly breastfeeding messages
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Special World Breastfeeding Awareness Month
activities
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Free access to a certified Lactation Educator
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Referrals to Lactation Consultants in the
community
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The above are only a few of our Breastfeeding
Promotion and Support Activities.
Please call your County
Breastfeeding Coordinator for more information.
Laurence J. Obaid, MS. R.D.
CLE at (714) 834-7986.
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