Class shows mothers how to maintain breastfeeding amid a busy schedule
EL CENTRO — The preponderance of evidence from the research community leaves little doubt as to the value of breastfeeding. It’s good for the baby, and it’s good for the mother.
But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy.
Lizeth Ramirez, a lactation educator for El Centro Regional Medical Center, held a free breastfeeding and healthy start class Thursday inside the south wing of the hospital. The class served to educate new and current mothers on the importance of breastfeeding to a child’s development.
The goal of this class was to encourage breastfeeding here in the community by teaching how to properly lactate and the benefits that come with lactating.
“A lot of moms in this area do both breastfeeding and formula, and we try to teach exclusive breastfeeding,” Ramirez said. “We help these mothers learn how to maintain the lactation even in their busy schedule.”
Ramirez explained that UNICEF and the World Health Organization recommend mothers to breastfeed their child from at least six months to a year.
She said breastfeeding a child comes with benefits, “Mothers lose weight, prevent breast and cervical cancer, and it helps to prevent diabetes because with the constant weight lose they maintain stable sugar levels.”
Mothers can maintain a healthy lactation period by pumping their milk and by seeking guidance from a consultant or support groups.
“I think that a woman can still breastfeed in this busy world we live in.
It is important for her to educate herself as much as possible so that it can be in her benefit. By doing so, she can learn where to seek help,” Ramirez said.
“One important thing that women should learn are their rights to breastfeeding,” she added. “They should be informed on how much time they have are allowed to use in order to properly breastfeed at work and store that milk for their child.
There are many mothers that have been able to work an eight hour shift and still breastfeed their child.”
It’s possible to maintain lactation even if a mother must leave her baby in someone else’s care during the day. In her class Ramirez provided information on how to properly lactate, store and plan for breastfeeding. The class was free to the public.
“It is doable, but in order to do this, mothers need to plan ahead and have a good pump. New mothers should find out if their insurance can provide them with a pump.
Not many know this, but many insurance providers are giving mothers a breastfeeding pump for free so that they can breastfeed their child,” Ramirez said.