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Family Fun Day Honors World Breastfeeding Week

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Family Fun Day Honors World Breastfeeding Week

BRIDGEPORT — St Vincent’s Family Birthing Center and the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Nutrition Program of Bridgeport invite all interested mothers and their families to join them at the Beardsley Park Zoo on Saturday, July 30, at 11:30 am to help celebrate World Breastfeeding Week.

Festivities include access to zoo exhibits and free musical entertainment for babies and young children provided by Gymboree of Milford.

Those who wish to participate should meet at the main entrance to the zoo at 11:30 am. Free admission will be granted to those who wear a gold ribbon of any kind symbolizing breast milk as the gold standard in infant feeding.

This year’s theme for World Breast Feeding Week is “Breastfeeding and Family Foods: Loving and Healthy,” and will take place the first week of August. Its purpose is to raise awareness of the numerous medical benefits breastfeeding provides for both mother and child. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be breastfed exclusively for the first six months of life.

 St Vincent’s lactation consultant Laurie Mastrone said, “Studies have proven that breastfeeding is better for a baby’s growth and development. Breast milk is a baby’s perfect food, and breastfeeding can decrease the likelihood for the child to develop allergies and asthma.”

Along with Ms Mastrone, St Vincent’s also has another lactation consultant, Jennifer Matranga, and both offer support to breastfeeding mothers, working to educate them about the benefits of breastfeeding and making good choices. St Vincent’s offers breastfeeding preparation classes, and inpatient and outpatient support to mothers and babies. The medical center also offers a breast pump rental service and a breastfeeding supplies store where mothers can get the equipment they need to successfully breastfeed their babies.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, better known as the WIC Program, serves to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk. It provides nutritious food to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care agencies. Included in its target population are pregnant women, and breastfeeding women up to baby’s first birthday.

For more information about the zoo celebration, St Vincent’s Family Birthing Center and its breastfeeding services, contact the lactation consultants at 203-576-6087.

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