‘Nice to see’: Families attend annual Breastfeeding Awareness Walk
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Kids stretched and tried some yoga poses, blew bubbles and frolicked under the shelter of the Morgantown Market Place on Friday evening as part of Monongalia County Health Department WIC's Breastfeeding Awareness Walk that took place from 6 to 8 p.m.
About 11 families attended the second event held at this location when it was revived last year, five years after the COVID pandemic shut it down.
"'I'm very excited about the turnout," said Anna Ash, an MCHD WIC breastfeeding counselor who organized the event. "We matched last year's numbers and we have four more vendors."
New this year was Heidi Sherwin of Moonbow Wellness & Yoga, who led children, their parents and some WIC staff members in a short session of stretching and movement.
"The children are engaged," Ash said. "The yoga session with the dads joining was nice to see."
MCHD WIC is a federally funded nutrition and support program for pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding mothers and their children up to the age of 5 who qualify. However, each of the six counties -- Monongalia, Preston, Marion, Harrison, Doddridge and Taylor -- under the MCHD WIC umbrella offer free breastfeeding classes to the public. Find out more at www.monchd.org/departments-programs/wic.
Kelly Lemon, a certified nurse midwife and advanced practice registered nurse who also works as a provider for Busy Moms Healthcare, was presented with the Golden Boob Award, which was established last year to honor people in the community who are making a difference in women's health and wellbeing.
"Her focus on maternal wellness from pregnancy to postpartum is so thorough and highly individualized to each patient she encounters," said Ceranda Jones, a breastfeeding counselor at MCHD WIC. "The reason I, personally, am so inspired by Kelly in her field is her work with pregnant patients struggling with addiction and her encouragement of treatment that works for them. She stays current on research and is a huge advocate."
Also making its debut was the newly branded WIC mother's station, a large tent that provides a place for breastfeeding, diaper-changing and relaxing.
The highlight of the event was a walk around the the block from Morgantown Market Place up to Willey and down High Street and back to the venue. Signs noted that breastfeeding is good for baby's gut health as well as mom's recovery and that breastfeeding in West Virginia is legal at work and in public.
"It's super great to see the community come out to support these breastfeeding moms," Ash said.