Health
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- Written by: Editor
- Details
- Written by: Editor
Breastfeeding is considered to be the “gold standard” for infant feeding for both mother and baby.
Breastfed babies are healthier for a lifetime. Breastfeeding mothers get more sleep and miss less work than mothers whose babies drink formula. Breastfeeding should be supported and promoted in every workplace and every child care facility.
In 2010, the U.S. Department of Labor amended the Fair Labor Act to include a provision to support breastfeeding. The act now requires that employers provide nursing mothers “reasonable break time” and an appropriate place to express breast milk for their nursing infants.
Supportive employers can educate their staff about state and federal breastfeeding laws. They can allow breastfeeding mothers to flex their schedules, coming to work earlier or staying later to make up for their longer breaks.
Employers can develop policies that allow babies to be brought to the work site to breastfeed during mother’s lunch break.
What does a “breastfeeding friendly” work site look like? There would definitely be a private place with a comfy chair and a table to make it relaxing for mothers to breastfeed their babies or pump during their work breaks. How about a place to store expressed milk. Is there a lobby or another place open to the public? If so, look for a notice proclaiming “Breastfeeding Welcome Here”
There are plenty of opportunities for childcare facilities to promote breastfeeding. Try hanging posters throughout your facility that show you support breastfeeding.
Be sure there is a “breastfeeding welcome here” sign on the front door or highly visible in the lobby.
Develop policies that support breastfeeding mothers and babies at your facility. Ask parents if there are any special directions for feeding breast milk to their baby.
Childcare facilities should encourage mothers to breastfeed on site when dropping off and picking up their children. As these mothers breastfeed, they give their babies immunities specific to germs that are present that very day at your facility.
Offer a variety of places for mothers to nurse. Some women prefer a private place to nurse. Other moms are comfortable nursing in public and should have the opportunity to do so. Remind mothers that they can stop in during the day to nurse their children.
California is a great place to live and to breastfeed. The state law in California supports every mother’s right to breastfeed in any public space including schools, bus stops, waiting areas, auditoriums, public transport, parks, pools, shopping malls, etc.
U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin acknowledges “Many barriers exist for mothers who want to breastfeed … They shouldn’t have to go it alone. Whether you’re a clinician, a family member, a friend, or an employer, you can play an important part in helping mothers who want to breastfeed.”
E Center WIC in Lake County has six lactation counselors available to answer questions about breastfeeding. Call E Center WIC for your free “breastfeeding welcome here” stickers at 707-263-5253.
For more information about creating a breastfeeding friendly work site, www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/programs/business-case/.
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- Written by: Editor
The File of Life is an emergency information sheet for each member of your family that is kept on your refrigerator door in a magnetic envelope for easy reach by ambulance, fire or rescue personnel.
Should you be unable to respond, all your medical information will be handy.
Benefits to first responders
Faster help for citizens in emergencies;
Instantly know medical history of patient;
Corrective treatment can begin immediately.
Benefits to hospital emergency staff
On arrival, data is immediately available to medical staff;
No wasted time getting information from confused patient.
Benefits to each individual
Peace of mind knowing they will have prompt, quality care;
Easy access to potentially life-saving information;
Assistance that proper persons will be notified quickly.
Place your File of Life sticker on your front door or window; this will let the emergency people know where to look for information.
Use a pencil to fill out your information in the File of Life. This will make it easier to make changes as your medications or doctors change.
On the File of Life information sheet, put down all your medications, the name(s) of your doctor(s), and family members or friends that should be contacted if something happens to you.
Your doctor, family, friends or social worker can help you fill out your information sheet.
Remember to update your File of Life any time you start a new medication or see a new doctor.
File of Life Packets are available at the main office of the Hidden Valley Lake Association on Hidden Valley Road, at the Middletown Fire Station on Highway 175 and at the House of Bargains located next door to the Middletown Fire Station.
The File of Life Program is only for South Lake County Residents; however, if you live outside the area and wish to learn how to start this program in your area, please contact Babe Vecellio at 707-987-3535 and she will give you the necessary resource information.
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- Written by: Editor
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Chronic pain caused by disease or injury saps the joy from life, isolating and debilitating those who suffer from it.
Causes may be difficult to discover, and traditional medication-based therapies are frequently ineffective.
That’s why Maggie Willhite, program manager for Live Well at Clearlake Family Health Center, is excited by record numbers of patient visits.
“This means that we’re reaching more and more members of our community with our message of hope: you can do something about chronic pain and illness,” she said.
Over the past few months, patient visits have doubled, with Live Well now often serving over 100 patients each day, more than 1,500 per month.
“The best form of advertising is changed lives,” said Willhite. “Some patients have had dramatic changes, such as one woman who had been doubled over for decades with chronic pain. After working with one of our Functional Health Coaches, she was able to stand upright and walk out of Live Well with significantly less pain and improved range of motion. We have so many similar stories.”
The emphasis at Live Well is on whole-person approaches to these often complex health issues.
Pain from chronic conditions is often invisible to others, isolating patients emotionally and physically. It may be caused by many conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, fibromyalgia, or depression.
“We start with a quality of life assessment with a behavioral health provider to gain an understanding of both the impacts and the causes of the pain,” Willhite said.
Often, the assessment uncovers contributing behaviors such as diet or inactivity. Case managers are available to help with basic needs of daily living and others such as arranging for needed medical supplies, home help, or specialist care.
At Live Well, it’s all about improving quality of life. “Live Well is unique in that our goal is to treat the whole person, their mind, body and spirit,” said Kimberly Tangermann, associate director of the Clearlake Family Health Center. Patient education focuses on topics such as breathing and relaxation, pacing, dealing with pain, anger and stress management, proper hydration and sleep hygiene.
And while pain is serious business, reducing it doesn’t have to be. “The medical providers and health coaches in our program take an encouraging approach and even try to make it fun. We use Nintendo Wii games as well as more traditional exercises to help patients work toward goals of improved activity.”
Spiritual support is available, plus a growing list of support groups. Live Well currently offers a support group for Hepatitis C patients, with others such as weight loss, smoking cessation, nutrition counseling, and hypertension management in the planning stages.
For the staff at Live Well, seeing the changes in people’s lives and watching hope return are the greatest rewards. Some leave behind the canes they needed when they first walked in the door. Others are finally able to sleep at night. A man in his fifties feels empowered to resume his education. A grandmother achieves her heart’s desire to be able to hold her grandchild again.
It doesn’t get better than that.
For more information, call Live Well at 707-995-4545 or stop by Live Well at the Clearlake Family Health Center on Lakeshore Blvd in Clearlake.
Clearlake Family Health Center is a part of St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake. Live Well accepts MediCal, Medicare and other insurances.
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