Breastfeeding efforts recognized
Pictured from left to right are: April Buescher, Essentia Health – Deer River; Pam Galle, Healthy Northland; Mary Belz, Riverwood Hospital; Sandy Carlson, St. Luke’s Hospital; Jill Devich, Essentia Health –Virginia Medical Arts Clinic
Three worksites, two hospitals and one city were recognized on Dec. 14 for their contributions to building more breastfeeding-friendly communities.
The Healthy Northland Breastfeeding Friendly Awards were given out at the Northeast Minnesota Breastfeeding Summit on Dec. 14 at St. Luke’s Hospital.
Healthy Northland recognized worksites Essentia Health – Deer River, Essentia Health –Virginia Medical Arts Clinic and Lake County Health & Human Services for their their dedicated work to support breastfeeding employees through completion of a lactation support program.
Riverwood Hospital in Aitkin and St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth were recognized for their dedicated work toward Baby-Friendly designation.
Finally, the City of Duluth was recognized as a Baby Friendly City in honor of the tremendous amount of work done by Duluth hospitals and the community to support breastfeeding families and healthy outcomes for infants and children.
Encouraging breastfeeding is an important part of promoting better health. Breastfed babies are at a lower risk for many health problems, including obesity, and mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop diabetes or breast or ovarian cancer.
See more resources about breastfeeding here.