Women’s Health Center of Excellence Update

September/October 2002, Issue 36

Lactation Room at the Women’s Health Center

The Women’s Health Center will open a Lactation Room for breastfeeding moms on September 3. A pump is in the room for your convenience, and we have pump kits available for purchase. Or you can bring your own equipment. To schedule a time for the room, contact 713-4220.

Breast Feeding Classes Available in October

Join Certified Lactation Consultants to learn about breastfeeding. Participants will receive Breastfeeding: A Parent’s Guide and those with perfect attendance are entered in a drawing for a breastfeeding adapter kit donated by the Women’s Health Center. Classes will be held on Thursdays in October (3, 10, 17, 24), 6-8pm at the Women’s Center and are co-sponsored by the Women’s Health Center and Action Health. A registration fee of $25 is charged to defray material costs. Scholarships are available based on need. To register, call Action Health at 713-8001.

Lean on Me: Breast Cancer Support Group for African-American Women

An education and support group designed to meet the needs of African-American women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. 8-weekly sessions begin Tuesday, September 10, 6:30-8 pm at the Women’s Health Center. Support provided through the Women’s Health Center Multidisciplinary Breast Care Clinic and The NC Triad Affiliate of the Komen Foundation. For more information, contact 713-4396.

Are you going to be a Grandparent?

Then join the Women’s Health Center on September 17, 7-9pm at Piedmont Plaza II, 1^st Floor for a Grandparenting Class. This class will cover new safety tips that might have changed since your children were babies. For example, did you know it is now recommended that babies sleep on their backs instead of tummies to reduce SIDS (Sudden Infants Death Syndrome)? Call 713-4220 to register

Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build ** Volunteers Needed **

The Women’s Center is assembling teams of women to participate in the 7^th Annual Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build in September through November. The Women’s Build house will be constructed exclusively by women throughout the community for a family in need. If you would like to volunteer to be on a Women’s Health Center team, contact 713-4220.

Health Cares About Domestic Violence (HCADV)Day

HCADV Day is a nationally recognized awareness-raising day, sponsored by the Family Violence Prevention Fund, to raise awareness within the health care community about the importance of screening for domestic violence. Join health care professionals and domestic violence advocates by taking part in the Fourth Annual Health Cares About Domestic Violence Day on Wednesday, October 9^th. To learn more about this event, visit www.endabuse.org/health.

New feature

Turn over for a new feature of our newsletter. Each issue will feature an article on a health topic. This issue’s focus is Breastfeeding.

Women’s Health Seminar Series

Co-Sponsored by the Women’s Health Center Education Program and Action Health

September 4 – Osteoporosis Screening will be held from 7am-4pm at Action Health, Sticht Center, 1^st Floor. To register, contact Action Health at 713-8001.

September 12 – “Calcium & Osteoporosis”, presented by Jenifer White, Diabetes Education at the Diabetes Care Center. Seminar held at noon in the Sticht Center Auditorium, Ground Floor Sticht Center. Lunch is provided. For questions or directions, contact 713-8001.

October 3 – Exercise & Weight Management, presented by Nike Roach, Personal Trainer with Family & Community Medicine. Seminar held at noon in the Sticht Center Auditorium, Ground Floor Sticht Center. Lunch is provided. For questions or directions, contact 713-8001.

Sponsored by the Women’s Health Center Research Program

September 10, – “Update on the Women’s Health Initiative,” presented by Sally Shumaker, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Public Health Sciences, and Associate Dean of Faculty Services and Career Development, WFU.

October 1, – “Breast Cancer Treatment and Quality of Life: Studies in Premature Menopause and Lymphedema,” presented by Jeanne A. Petrek, M.D., Director, Surgical Program, The Lauder Breast Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering.

November 5, – “Body Composition and Function After Hip Fracture,” presented by Jay S. Magaziner, PhD, MS Hyg, Professor, Director of the Div. of Gerontology, Dept. of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Research Program seminars are held at noon in the Sticht Center Auditorium, Ground Floor Sticht Center. Lunch is provided. For questions or directions, contact 713-4220.

Breastfeeding–Best for Baby, Best for Mom

Whether you are a new or expecting Mom, you want to give your baby the best care possible. One of the best things only you can do is breastfeed. While breastfeeding isn't the only option for feeding your baby, every mother has the potential to succeed and make it a wonderful experience.

A mother's milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that’s needed for baby's growth and development. Most babies digest breast milk easier than formula. Breast milk straight from the breast is always sterile, at the perfect temperature, and contains antibodies that help infants fight off infection and disease.

Breastfeeding is also great for mom. It saves time and money, as you don’t have to purchase, measure, and mix formula, and there are no bottles to warm at 2am. The physical contact of breastfeeding helps the bonding process of mother and baby. Breastfeeding helps the uterus shrink to its original size more quickly and lessens any bleeding after birth. It may also lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Need another reason to breastfeed? Nursing uses extra calories, making it easier to lose pounds gained during pregnancy.

The U.S. Surgeon General recommends babies be fed only breast milk for the first 6 months, although breastfeeding is best for 12 months. Solid foods can be introduced when baby is 4-6 months.

For more information on breastfeeding, contact the Women’s Health Center at 713-4220, or visit our Resource Center at Piedmont Plaza II, 1^st Floor, 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday.

Lactation Rooms are available for breastfeeding mothers at the Women’s Center and ActionHealth.

Information for this article was provided by the National Women’s Health Information Center.

To learn more about Breastfeeding, health issues and diseases that affect women and what you can do to prevent them visit us at the Women’s Health Resource Center at 2000 West First Street, Piedmont Plaza II, 1^st Floor. We’re open 8-5 Monday to Friday.