PEERS HELP NURSING MOMS
Katie M. Yerdon struggled so much while breast-feeding her first son that she nearly gave up.
Nursing her second son, 2-month-old Noah S., has been easier, Mrs. Yerdon said, due to experience with son Kip E., 2, and help from the Women, Infants and Children supplemental feeding program's breast-feeding peer counseling.
"With my first one, we did have some difficulties with him latching properly, so that took about two months to work through," the Mannsville resident said. "I wish I had the peer counselor then, but I didn't know about it."
Planning to nurse Noah for a year, as she did with Kip, Mrs. Yerdon said she knows the second time around will be much easier. She said she will call Melissa E. Humphrey, Jefferson County breast-feeding peer counselor, if she encounters any problems and no longer will rely on online information for latching techniques.
Ms. Humphrey, who breast-fed her two young children, said she's just a phone call away for moms enrolled in the program. "If a mom has a problem, it's basically latching," she said.
Ms. Humphrey has visual aids to show mothers during office visits that describe how to make the baby latch to the breast better. Better latching makes the nursing experience more comfortable for the mother and provides a more consistent flow of milk for the baby.
"It's called skin-to-skin, and you just let them go," Ms. Humphrey said. "We need to allow the baby to find it on its own. They're wired to do that. They're very smart, and they know what they're doing, but a lot of moms don't know that."
Angel M. Carter, WIC breast-feeding coordinator for Lewis County and WIC nutritionist, said a breast-feeding peer counselor shouldn't replace any medical professional.
"The peer counselor isn't a lactation specialist," she said. "We want them to view us as a peer because research shows you learn better from family, friends and peers."
Ms. Humphrey said the peer program also works closely with area nurses and doctors' offices to make referrals if a mother has a serious or complicated problem.
The program is free for women enrolled in the WIC program, and is done in coordination with each county's Cornell Cooperative Extension office.
Ms. Humphrey said breast-feeding is important for babies and mothers not only because it creates a bond between the two, but also because the milk contains important nutrients for the child. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast milk "contains antibodies that can protect infants from bacterial and viral infections."
Brittany L. Lillie, 17, Adams, said that even though formula is nutritious for babies, it cannot provide the bond that breast-feeding does. She had been breast-feeding her 3-month-old son, Timothy W. Ettinger, since he was born.
"It's rewarding to know what he's eating comes right from me," she said. "It makes me feel more like a strong mom."
Ms. Lillie is one of 186 breast-feeding women participating in the peer counseling program throughout the north country. It will host special events next week as part of World Breastfeeding Week 2010. Mothers participating in WIC are encouraged to call for more information: 782-9222 in Jefferson County, 376-6427 in Lewis County, 386-8128 in St. Lawrence County and 1 (518) 483-4262 in Franklin County.
