Beginning Monday, February 12, Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health will be offering free breastfeeding classes that are open to the public. Each class will be taught by an International Board Certified Lactation Counselor (IBCLC) and a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC). There will be two breastfeeding classes offered per month at Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health Mondays and Saturdays. Monday classes will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday classes will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Items that will be discussed during each class include: benefits to breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding positions/latch, how to know if baby is getting enough breastmilk, feeding cues, and breastfeeding while returning to work. Each class participant will receive a free printed breastfeeding guide to take home.
Breastfeeding has many known health benefits for infants, children, and mothers. Infants who do not receive breastmilk are more likely to experience infections and chronic conditions such as allergies, asthma, and diabetes later in life. Breastfeeding delivers antibodies to help prevent infants from viruses and infection. Mothers also benefit from breastfeeding; studies have shown that breastfeeding can reduce a woman’s risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer later in life.
Please visit our webpage to register for free breastfeeding classes at http://www.bismarcknd.gov/357/Maternal-Child-Wellness, or call today for more information (701) 355-1540.