Well Child Center

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Archives for August 2019

Invest in Breastfeeding

“What have you heard about pumping your breastmilk when you return to work?”

We ask this question every day at the WIC clinic. I share with interested clients that I pumped breastmilk for two of my three kids and encourage them to continue to breastfeed while working as well.

I cried a lot when I realized that I wasn’t going to get the same time at home with my youngest child as I did with my first born. My boss was great at allowing me to work three-hour shifts and have hour long lunch breaks. All it took was a few bites of food and a few pages into Harry Potter to help me relax and have a letdown of milk. I would pump right before leaving for work and feed my daughter first thing when I got home. With my youngest, the daycare would let me come in and feed my son before packing him up for the ride home.

The Kane County Breastfeeding Coalition has encouraged local employers to help moms achieve their breastfeeding goals. They understand when baby drinks mom’s milk for a longer length of time, the child is healthier in later years. For the boss, this means an employee calling in sick less often to stay home to care for a feverish little one. Watch for the Coalition’s recognition during World Breastfeeding Week (August 1st-August 7th), so you can support breastfeeding friendly businesses.

Some people are unaware insurance companies will cover the cost of a breast pump. Save your baby shower dollars for the diapers!

About April Swain

April has worked at Well Child Center throughout three maternity leaves since 2006. She graduated from Illinois State University and is a passionate IBCLC. She is also a member of McQueen Station Farm, a co-op in Elgin, IL.

Celebrate World Breastfeeding Week with Us!

Breastfeeding Event

Breastfeeding aficionados, this blog’s for you! Is there anything quite as special as a mom cradling and nursing her newborn baby? The oldest image of a mother breastfeeding dates back to Babylon, approximately 2003-1595 B.C. and throughout history breastfeeding sustained life. However, in 2019 a simple internet search for “breastfeeding” produces over 100 million results that range from its benefits, oppositions, complications, personal blogs and instructional videos. How is a person curious to learn more about breastfeeding supposed to navigate all this information without becoming confused? Although breastfeeding has many supporters, today an image of a woman breastfeeding her baby is often a divisive and much debated topic. Sadly, this creates barriers for a woman deciding how to feed her baby.

At Well Child Center (WCC), we strive to help mothers meet their breastfeeding goals in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. We have two Internationally Board-Certified Lactation Consultations (IBCLC’s) and three Breastfeeding Peer Counselors dedicated to ensuring our community’s breastfeeding experience meets expectations.

Every August since 1992, The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) celebrates World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) to highlight the joy and importance of breastfeeding. WCC, as a member of the Kane County Breastfeeding Coalition, is participating in the Fourth Annual Global Big Latch-on. This year’s event takes place at Advocate Sherman Hospital on August 3rd from 9:30-11 a.m. Pregnant women, mothers and families are welcomed to enjoy fun activities and learn more about new Illinois breastfeeding laws that protect women breastfeeding at work.

Once again, the Kane County Breastfeeding Coalition will be recognizing employers in Kane County who provide breastfeeding friendly practices in the workplace. If you are an employer that accommodates breastfeeding or work for a company that you would like to recognize please share here: http://kanecountyconnects.com/2019/07/coalition-celebrates-breastfeeding-friendly-workplaces-in-kane-county/ Last year, 25 businesses were congratulated on their commitment to help make breastfeeding easier for their employees.

Continuing August’s breastfeeding celebration, WCC is thrilled to be one of 200 sites selected nationwide to debut the groundbreaking documentary “Chocolate Milk.” This project is an exploration of the racial divide in breastfeeding and discusses why more African American women are choosing not to breastfeed as told by three African American women: a new mother, a midwife and a WIC lactation educator. Our screening is August 7th at 1:00 p.m. If you are interested to attend, please contact Cindy Anderson at cla@wans.net

About Cindy Anderson

Cindy has been an IBCLC since 2001 and has worked at Well Child Center for 22 years. She is the mother of three grown daughters and grandmother to one granddaughter. Difficulties with her own breastfeeding experiences led her to become a Lactation Consultant. Breastfeeding does not always go as planned and Cindy believes every mother deserves compassionate care to help achieve her breastfeeding goals.