Happy Breastfeeding Month!

It's official!  The United States Breastfeeding Committee has designated the entire month of August as National Breastfeeding Month, so Happy Breastfeeding Month!  Check out the proclamation here: Breastfeeding Proclamation


In honor of National Breastfeeding Month, here are some new updates on breastfeeding as it relates to our country and state so you can stay informed...

• The mPINC study has just been released with information on Alaska.  This report provides data from the 2009 mPINC survey for Alaska. It describes specific opportunities to improve mother/baby care at hospitals and birth centers in Alaska in order to more successfully meet national quality of care standards for perinatal care. Link: mPINC Survey Results
• The Center for Disease Control has just released the 2011 Breastfeeding Report Card which provides information on breastfeeding practices by state.  Link: Report Card 2011
• The Joint Commission has a new campaign called Speak Up Now.  They state that, "Breastfeeding is natural for you and your baby, but it is a skill that needs to be learned. Speak up and ask questions about breastfeeding before your baby is born and while you are in the hospital. This will help you continue to breastfeed after you go home."  Check out the handouts they have for families here: Speak Up Campaign

Next Meeting: Tuesday, August 9th

Educational Focus for Breastfeeding Providers

Skin to Skin in the First Hour After Birth: 

Practical Advice for Staff after Vaginal and Cesarean Birth

This training is provided by The Healthy Children Project.  Presented by DVD, it is intended to assist staff in providing behaviorally appropriate, individualized, baby adapted care for the full term newborn using the best practice of skin to skin      contact in the first hour after birth.  It includes practical advice for providers     working with women after both vaginal and cesarean births.

Meeting will be held at the Fairbanks Public  Health Center on Tuesday, August 9th from 12-1PM.  RSVP to Laura at 451-1632 for information.  Feel free to bring a lunch and children are welcome.  We will have a small play space for them adjoining our meeting area 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Tanana Valley State Fair Parent Pit Stop

The Tanana Valley State Fair is almost here!  Every year the Fairbanks Breastfeeding Coalition helps sponsor the Parent Pit Stop booth at the fair.  This booth creates a clean, quiet, and safe place to feed and change your baby.  The booth is staffed by volunteers from around the community.  Call 451-1650 if you are interested in volunteering to staff the booth for a three hour shift.  Volunteering allows you a free pass to the fair.
Also, make sure and stop by the booth if you need somewhere to feed or change your baby, and tell your friends to do the same!  The booth is located in the building that contains the North Star Ballet Studio and the Bingo Hall.  To get there, enter through the yellow gate, cross the bridge, and look to your right.  The Pit Stop has signs and you will enter from the south side of the building facing the deep grassy ditch.  See you there!