DALLAS – Parkland Health & Hospital System will host a “World Breastfeeding Month Celebration” health fair on Thursday, Aug. 22 to help inform women about the importance of breastfeeding and offer lactation education and resources. Similar events are held worldwide during August in more than 120 countries to emphasize the value of breastfeeding for mothers and infants and help mothers overcome obstacles they may face while breastfeeding. Parkland’s event, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the MacGregor W. Day Auditorium, located on the first floor at Parkland Memorial Hospital, 5201 Harry Hines Blvd., is free and open to patients and family members, staff and visitors to the Parkland campus.
“Parkland staff is committed to providing education, resources and encouragement to mothers who want to breastfeed, as well as helping to educate employers, family members and others who want to support them,” said Linda Jackson, Lactation Services Program Coordinator at Parkland.
“Breastfeeding is vital for both infants and mothers,” Jackson added. “Infants benefit from easy digestion, protection from illness and lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and in addition, mothers benefit from a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and postpartum depression.”
Breastfeeding is recommended for these reasons by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Surgeon General of the United States and the American Academy of Pediatrics, among others.
Mothers who choose to breastfeed also need continuing support in the months following childbirth, Jackson explained. Parkland regularly offers lactation classes in both English and Spanish where mothers learn techniques from trained lactation consultants and get tips on how to return to work while continuing to breastfeed.
“We encourage spouses and family members to come and take part in the classes,” said Jackson. “Nursing mothers need the support and understanding of their families.” Mothers are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. labor force. One third of these mothers return to work within three months of childbirth. Breastfeeding friendly workplaces, like Parkland, provide a supportive environment for breastfeeding mothers.
Breastfeeding classes are offered the first Saturday of every month in the MacGregor W. Day Auditorium at Parkland. English classes are held from 9 a.m. to noon and Spanish classes from 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $10. For more information about the breastfeeding classes and registration call 214.590.2323.
