WIC Providing Baby Friendly Skills for New Mothers

Three local hospitals are now better equipped to help mothers breastfeed, thanks to Baby Friendly Skills Workshops provided by the City of Dallas Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program, in collaboration with Parkland Hospital & Health System, Methodist Dallas Medical Center and Charlton Methodist Medical Center.

More than 600 health care providers from Parkland Hospital & Health System, Methodist Dallas Medical Center and Charlton Methodist Medical Center as well as WIC staff are receiving hands-on training at the workshops. The BFHI training is giving the healthcare providers the skills they need to prepare new mothers to successfully reach their breastfeeding goals.

All three hospitals have increased their exclusive breastfeeding rates by 10 percent or more and are continuing to move toward achieving their Baby Friendly Hospital designation. The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a World Health Organization/UNICEF program which incorporates the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding; aimed at teaching health care staff the skills to support breastfeeding in a hospital setting.

Research is clear that breastfeeding is the optimal source of nutrition for most infants. The benefits of breastfeeding include less risk of ear and respiratory infections, diabetes and obesity. “Bridging the gap between the hospital and community to support breastfeeding helps infants get off to a healthy start in the fight against obesity and diabetes,” said Dallas Lactation Care Center (LCC) Manager Christine Wiseman.

The LCC is a division of the City of Dallas WIC Program and is staffed by board certified lactation consultants through the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. Additionally, WIC promotes breastfeeding through several programs including a Peer Counselor Program in the hospital and clinic settings, a Peer Dad Program and the Community Baby Cafe