Southern New Mexico Boarder Breastfeeding Task Force

NM WIC Region 5 events to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week Aug 1st – 7th

Silver City WIC office – Hosted their 5th Annual Pamper Day for Breastfeeding Moms in Grant and Hidalgo counties on Aug 5th from 9-12 PM at the Grant County Convention Business Center with a red carpet gala. Breastfeeding mothers were pampered with corsages, certificates, haircuts, manicures, massages, hundreds of giveaways, music, and lots of food. Over 250 breastfeeding mothers participated!! This is an increase of over 100 from last year's event. WIC clerk Nora Estrada, Stephanie Guck (Lead Breastfeeding Peer Counselor), Candace Grado (Breastfeeding Peer Counselor), and Yadira Trejo Vigil (Breastfeeding Peer Counselor) worked tirelessly to make this year’s event the best ever. The World Breastfeeding Week Pamper Day has become an entire annual community event. Many organizations, businesses, and volunteers get involved in organizing this yearly event i.e., NM Public Health programs, Grant County government and surrounding governmental offices, Lovelace Healthcare, Molina Healthcare, Hidalgo Medical Services, and many more to ensure breastfeeding mothers are acknowledged and recognized for their commitment to giving their babies their lifelong gift of the best food…Breastmilk.

Ruidoso WIC office - celebrated WBFW by sponsoring a "Walk around the Links Golf Course Walking Trail" every morning at 9am on August 1-6th. The Breastfeeding Peer Counselor conducted the walk and they set up an awning tent outside of the office. Participants met their each morning to sign up for the walk and placed their names for a daily drawing. They had WIC participants old and new plus members of the community walk to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week. After the walk they provided water, homemade trail mix, and fresh fruit. At the end of each walk they would have a drawing for numerous donated gifts from the community i.e., free haircuts, massages, free pizza's, and many other pampering gifts.

At the Ruidoso WIC office, all breastfeeding mothers and their infants were given goodie bags of books, bib, baby wipes, small first aid kits and many other small items. The gift bags will be distributed all month long to each participant.

Chaparral WIC Office – hosted a pampering day for pregnant and breastfeeding women! The event was on Friday Aug 5th from 8am-12pm. the clinic was decorated in a movie theme to support the national theme of “Talk to Me! Breastfeeding a 3-D Experience.” Every woman received a ticket for a haircut and manicure if desired. All women received a surprise brown bag containing some type of jewelry. Cake and refreshments were reserved. Haircuts were provided by two local hairstylists and manicures by students from Tri-State Cosmetology Institute. WIC staff created a “3D Talk to Me” bingo game which was played in the lobby using breastfeeding benefits as terms on the bingo cards prompting women to generate discussion around breastfeeding issues. The Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Rosa Trujillo, was available for assistance with breastfeeding issues throughout the event. Nursing pads and nipple creams were available to breastfeeding mothers. A total of 59 breastfeeding mothers attended! Chaparral WIC enjoyed the day like a movie in 3-D!

Las Cruces WIC office – World Breastfeeding Week celebration held on August 2, 2011 from 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm. Forty-two breastfeeding mom’s attended and 28 of them were exclusively breastfeeding. Celebration began with Breastfeeding Counselor welcoming everyone to the celebration. Food was served i.e., pink lemonade, sub sandwiches, pizza, chips, salsa, and rolls. For dessert we had cupcakes. Eighteen local vendors donated most of the food. A local massage school came out to give massages to our breastfeeding mothers. A Mary Kay representative gave facials to our breastfeeding mothers. The Las Cruces WIC staff created certificates and passed out a Lovelace lunch bag with books, “Got Breastmilk bib, and a chocolate lollipop. Other organizations participated by providing health information i.e., Families First, Medicaid, Community Wellness, and CMS. Area for celebration was decorated in a Luau theme. This was the first year the Las Cruces WIC office hosted this event to celebrate breastfeeding mothers.

Anthony WIC Office - celebrated WBFW with Annual Breastfeeding Ceremony on Friday August 5th. Fifteen breastfeeding mothers attended. Breastfeeding Peer Counselor's Maria Ramos and Lisa Hughs were very instrumental in organizing the ceremony and gathering all donations. The ceremony consisted of a brief presentation by Certified Zumba Instructor Alma Valtazar in which she discussed the importance of physical activity and good nutrition. She also led the group in a 15 minute Zumba exercise focusing on getting energized and relaxation. Breastfeeding mothers were presented with an Achievement in BF certificate, a single red rose, and gift bags. Ceremony concluded with refreshments and door prizes.

Alamogordo WIC office - hosted a celebration and award ceremony. The Alamogordo office and local businesses (vendor's), La Leche League, Tularosa Basin Breastfeeding Task Force, GCRMC (hospital), and the peer counselor program organized a breastfeeding awareness walk on Saturday, August 6th at 10 am that began at Washington Park with a cake, drinks, prizes, breastfeeding/health information & food.

The Alamogordo Peer Counselors have been scheduled to provide a breastfeeding presentation to Alamogordo’s hospital maternity ward and to the local OB/Gyn office staff during their August meetings in which they will present them with a certificate of appreciation.

East Mesa WIC office - On August 3rd, we celebrated WBFW with a reception from 10am-2p.m. Twenty-five breastfeeding mothers and their children attended. Breastfeeding mothers were treated to free haircuts and manicures by students of The Olympian University of Hair. A raffle was held consisting of 2 nursing covers with matching burp cloths as well as 2 baby blankets. The Exclusive breastfeeders were recognized with a certificate of accomplishment. Nursing babies received the "Got Breastmilk" bibs and a picture was taken. We had a few tables set with fruit baskets and cupcakes with the option of white or chocolate milk and water bottles. Having the tables set next to the clerks allowed us to share with the non-nursing mothers and some fathers about the importance of nursing.

Deming WIC office – A Breast Feeding Celebration was held August 5, 2011 from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. Deming conference room was decorated for the occasion with banners, table clothes, crepe paper streamers, decorative plates, cups, napkins, flatware and table center pieces that made it a colorful party environment. Ten breastfeeding mothers attended. Participants were registered for a drawing of a crochet blanket made by WIC clerk Diana Martinez. The winner was a mom who had exclusively breastfed three children. Moms shared their breastfeeding experiences. Certificates of accomplishment were presented to the breastfeeding moms. Activities and games were held. Refreshments of fresh fruits, trail mix and flavored water were provided.

Socorro WIC office - Ten breastfeeding mothers showed up at celebration. A breastfeeding educational video played in the lobby and information packets were distributed. Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Andria Greiner was able to spend some really good one on one time with the mothers who came in, provide assistance, and answer questions etc. Mothers enjoyed a Boobie cake and a raffle.

Sunland Park WIC office - will celebrate and acknowledge Breastfeeding mothers the entire month of August every Wednesday. Breastfeeding mothers will be given Breastfeeding certificates, snacks, photo, bag of goodies, and door prizes.

Hatch WIC office – Created a new breastfeeding bulletin board. Bagged breast cookies with the breastfeeding law stapled to them were distributed. Each breastfeeding mother received a breastfeeding accomplishment certificate. Included in their gift bags were onesies, baby wash clothes, and “Got Breastmilk” baby bibs.

Holloman Air Force Base WIC office – hosted a celebration and award ceremony for breastfeeding mothers during World Breastfeeding Week.

Tularosa WIC office – A breastfeeding display was set up which included decorations and prizes. It will be displayed for the entire month of August.

Tor C WIC office – pinned golden ribbons to Breastfeeding moms who came to the clinic during World Breastfeeding Week. An office bulletin board was created to reflect World Breastfeeding Week.

West Las Cruces WIC office – Distributed Breastfeeding certificates of accomplishment and baby bibs that read “Got Breastmilk” to all breastfeeding mothers as they visited WIC offices to obtain their WIC benefits.

Estancia WIC office – created a bulletin board to reflect World Breastfeeding Week, distributed breastfeeding information, and gave each breastfeeding mother a certificate of accomplishment.