BRHC Breastfeeding Health Fair

Bothwell Regional Health Center’s Women’s Health Unit will host a Breastfeeding Health Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 3, in the Bothwell Education Center, 14th and Ingram, Sedalia.

The health fair is free and open to the public. The event is part of Bothwell’s celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, which runs August 1 through 7.

Attendees will be eligible for door prizes, and vendors will be present to answer questions about their services.

Presentations on breastfeeding and related topics, including nutrition, oral care for Mom and baby, working while breastfeeding and more are scheduled every 30 minutes:

11:30 a.m.     Oral Care for Mom and Baby

Bethany Vandevender, DDS

Noon              DVD: Dunstan Baby Language

12:30 p.m.     Nutrition for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Lori Bohnenstiehl, Registered Dietician Technician

1 p.m.             Introduction to Early Head Start

Nancy Davidson and Carrie Hayes

1:30 p.m.       Breastfeeding and Working

Mary Lou Shane, RN, International Board Certified Lactation                                                Consultant, and Palmira Mitts, WIC peer counselor

2 p.m.             Need Milk? What to Do

Janice R. Johnson, RN, BSN, International Board Certified                                       Lactation Consultant

2:30 p.m.       What is La Leche League

Pat Sturges RN, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

This year’s theme for World Breastfeeding Week is “Breastfeeding Support, Close to Mothers.” Babies benefit from breast milk because it is easily digested and filled with antibodies that protect against infection. Breast-fed babies have a reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), certain cancers, juvenile diabetes and allergies. Benefits to mothers who breast feed their babies include lower risks of bleeding after delivery, postpartum depression, uterine and ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.