According to the 2012 Hospital Breastfeeding Rates Report, 98.6% of women delivering at Marin General Hospital in 2010 initiated breastfeeding. By hospital discharge, 17% of those mothers were giving formula (MGH breastfeeding rates) and after hospital discharge, breastfeeding rates decreased significantly. Exclusive breastfeeding rates at three months for the Bay Area are 40% (MIHA data from CDPH). Exclusive breastfeeding rates for participants of the Marin County Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) are less than 25% at six months. How can we support mothers to reach their breastfeeding goals?
Peer breastfeeding support has been shown to be an effective strategy to increase breastfeeding rates and is the theme for this year’s World Breastfeeding Week. Peer support acknowledges that beyond her own personal resolve to breastfeed, a mother relies on a circle of support that includes family, community members, childcare workers, and policy makers.
Since 2006, Marin’s WIC Program has had a Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program, supporting over 600 low-income women annually. WIC peer counselors have been trained to provide new mothers with breastfeeding information and support in the WIC office at Marin General Hospital and are available by phone outside of normal hours. For those mothers needing clinical breastfeeding support, WIC has Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) available four days a week both in the WIC office and in the mother’s home, if needed. WIC breastfeeding rates have nearly doubled since the Peer Counseling Program started. Low-income families and those with Medi-Cal can be referred to WIC for breastfeeding help at 473-3094 (phone) or 473-4056 (fax).