Using Breastfeeding Peer Counseling in the Fight Against Obesity

1
Using Breastfeeding Peer Counseling in the
Fight Against Obesity

• Melinda Ridenhour, RD, LD, IBCLC
• Cole County Health Department, WIC Division
  Director

2
Objectives

• Breastfeeding A Public Health Issue
• Healthy People 2010 Breastfeeding Objectives
• Missouri Rates Peer Counselor Programs
• Why Peer Counselors
• Who Are Peer Counselors
• CCHD WIC Program Peer Counseling

3
Breastfeeding is just a nice thing to do
RIGHT?
4
Breastfeeding Is a Public Health Issue
Not Just a Lifestyle
Choice
5
Breastfeeding -Vital Public Health Issue

• Lower risk of childhood adulthood obesity
• Reduced risk of SIDS
• Reduced risk of certain childhood cancers
  juvenile onset diabetes
• Decreased incidence severity of allergies
• Reduced risk of developing Hodgkins disease
  other chronic digestive diseases
• Benefits increase with duration of breastfeeding

6
Breastfeeding -Vital Public Health Issue

• Reduces hospital expenses lowers hospital stays
  for premature LBW babies
• Reduced risk of breast, uterine and ovarian
  cancer, and osteoporosis
• Faster recovery after childbirth due to decreased
  postpartum bleeding
• Less depression in postpartum women
• BREASTFEEDING SAVES LIFES !!

7
Healthy People 2010 Objectives

• 75 are breastfeeding at hospital discharge
• 50 are breastfeeding at 6 months
• 25 are breastfeeding at 1 year

8
How are we doing in Missouri?
9
2004 Missouri Breastfeeding Rates
10
WIC Peer Counselor Programs

• 118 WIC Programs in Missouri
• 44 have Breastfeeding Peer
• Counselor Programs
• National effort by USDA
• WIC to implement peer
• counseling as a core service.
• In FY 2004, Congress
• appropriated approximately
• 15 million to expand WIC
• breastfeeding support services
• through peer counseling.

11
Why Breastfeeding Peer Counselors?

• The Power Of Mother-to-Mother Connection
• Peer support programs are found to be effective
  in increasing initiation and duration of
  breastfeeding.
• New mothers preferred resource
• for concerns about child rearing is
• other mothers. Advice from friends
• is commonly cited as a reason for
• decisions about infant feeding.

12
Who are Peer Counselors?

• Currently breastfeeding or have done so in the
  past, WIC participant
• Undergo specific training
• Encourage, educate support pregnant
  breastfeeding women
• Provide individual counseling, assistance
  mother-to-mother support through telephone calls
  or visits in homes, clinics, or hospitals

13
Cole County WIC Program

• 10 hour days, Monthly caseload of 1800
• 28 women, 27 infants, 45 children
• 74 white, 21 Black,
• Most referrals are by word of mouth due to
  
• customer service quality care provided
• Collaborate with local hospitals physicians
• All staff are trained in breastfeeding support
  /or
• education
• Breastfeeding initiation has increased from
• 25(1998) to 60(2004)
• 50 of infants participate in the Missouri WIC
  Program !!

14
CCHD WIC STAFF
15
CCHD PC AppointmentsPregnancy

• Monthly one-on-one appointments
• Help mother explore address her concerns
• Returning to work, embarrassment, lack of
  support, etc.
• Pump Program
• Identify sources of support for the mother
• Family, friends, health care providers, LLL, CCHD
  Lactation Directory
• Provide basic breastfeeding information to help
  increase her confidence
• Benefits, How to Breastfeed Video, Role Playing
• Encourage her to read breastfeeding handouts,
  magazines books, go to hospital classes, LLL
  meetings

16
CCHD PC AppointmentsPostpartum

• Phone call or visit in the hospital/home
• Assistance in preventing common concerns
• Assistance in managing breastfeeding problems
• Assess positioning and latch
• Ongoing support encouragement
• Referrals

17
Making a Difference
18
Cole County WIC Program

• Melinda Ridenhour, RD, LD, IBCLC
• WIC Director
• Cole County Health Department
• 573-636-2181 ext.116
• mridenhour_at_colecounty.org

19
State Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program

• Kathy Mertzlufft RD, LD, CBE
• Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Coordinator
• Department of Health and Senior ServicesWIC and
  Nutrition ServicesChronic Disease Prevention and
  Nutrition Services1-800-
• kathy.mertzlufft_at_dhss.mo.gov

20

• While breastfeeding may not seem the right
  choice for every parent, it is the best choice
  for every baby.
• Amy Spangler