The Archuleta County Fair is filled with animals, exhibits, food, music and plenty of reasons for families to spend the day at the fairgrounds. This year, the Archuleta County Public Health Department (ACPHD) is adding something especially helpful for some of the fair’s youngest visitors, and their mothers.
For the first time, breastfeeding mothers will have access to a private, temperature-controlled space where they can comfortably feed their babies during the fair.
The new breastfeeding room will be will be available throughout the Archuleta County Fair, taking place Thursday, July 30, through Sunday, Aug. 2.
August days at the fairgrounds can get hot, busy and noisy. While mothers have the right to breastfeed wherever they feel comfortable, sometimes a quiet, cool and secluded space can make feeding a baby much easier. The new room will offer mothers and babies a break from the heat and activity of the fair while providing privacy for those who prefer it.
The equipment used to create the breastfeeding room was purchased through grant funding and will not be limited to the county fair. ACPHD plans to offer the portable space at several community events throughout Archuleta County in the coming months.
This new resource is also an extension of the support already available through the department’s Women, Infants and Children program, better known as WIC.
Many people recognize WIC as a food assistance program, but its services go well beyond helping families purchase nutritious foods. WIC also provides nutrition education, breastfeeding counseling and support, breast pumps when appropriate, and connections to other health and community resources.
ACPHD staff members who support the WIC program have received specialized breastfeeding education and can help new mothers with questions and concerns. Breastfeeding can be a wonderful experience, but it does not always feel simple — especially at first. Questions about feeding positions, milk supply, pumping, returning to work or helping a baby latch are all common. Having someone available to listen, offer information and help a mother find the right support can make an enormous difference.
Breastfeeding provides fascinating benefits for both babies and mothers. Breast milk changes as a baby grows, helping meet the baby’s changing nutritional needs. It also contains antibodies that help babies build their immune systems and protect against illness.
Babies who are breastfed have lower risks of several health concerns, including ear infections, stomach illnesses, asthma and sudden infant death syndrome. Breastfeeding may also reduce a mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
Every family and every baby is different, and feeding decisions are personal. The goal of WIC is not to judge parents or tell them that there is only one acceptable way to feed their children. Rather, its purpose is to provide families with reliable information, practical resources and respectful support as they make the decisions that are best for them.
WIC serves pregnant women, mothers who recently had a baby, breastfeeding mothers, infants and children younger than 5 who meet program guidelines. Fathers, grandparents, foster parents and other caregivers may also apply for WIC benefits on behalf of an eligible child.
Community members are encouraged to stop by the ACPHD booth during the fair. Staff members will be available to say hello, answer questions and share information about WIC and the department’s many other services.
Those services include community health programs, support for residents who are uninsured or underinsured, health insurance navigation, tobacco cessation resources, food-safety services and public-health emergency preparedness. The department also has an on-site clinic offering various testing services, a women’s wellness program, and is open to the public Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Whether or not you currently need one of these programs, come meet the people providing them. They would be happy to meet you. Learning what is available now can help you, a family member, a neighbor or a friend later.
August is also national breastfeeding month, so the fair and our debut of our breastfeeding tent will kick off the month and bring awareness and support around breastfeeding.
For the mothers bringing little ones to the fair, look for the new breastfeeding room near the ACPHD booth. Step inside, cool off and take the time you and your baby need. We are excited to bring this new resource to the fair — and to more Archuleta County events in the future.
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