Date: Fri 02-Oct-1998
Date: Fri 02-Oct-1998
Publication: Bee
Author: JAN
Quick Words:
Drug-Center-breast-feeding
Full Text:
Breast Feeding Initiative Announced
(with cut)
BY JAN HOWARD
The Drug Center of Newtown and Danbury Hospital are combining their efforts to
alert pregnant women and new mothers about the benefits of breast feeding
their infants.
The joint initiative was announced September 25 at the Drug Center by store
owner Donald Bates, Cathryn Dahlmeyer, the store's health coordinator, Dr
Eitan Kilchevsky, a neonatologist with Newborn Health Specialists and the
Office of Physician Services, and Gib Trachtenburg, director of Business
Health Services of Danbury Hospital.
Through informative brochures, the educational phase is geared to the period
prior to birth and from 12 to 18 months after.
In addition to providing information about breast feeding, the Drug Center
carries all nursing equipment and supplies, including breast pumps and
supplies needed to succeed in expressing milk, and videos and other pamphlets.
One of the pamphlets provided by the Drug Center and the hospital lists the
value of breast feeding to infants. It describes preparation for breast
feeding, what to do after delivery, nutritional value, breast milk supply and
demand, breast feeding and diet, what to expect during breast feeding, and
expressing breast milk for later use.
Pamphlets, such as this, will be provided to the Well Child Clinic in Sandy
Hook and to the Visiting Nurse Association and to obstetricians and
pediatricians in the area, Ms Dahlmeyer said.
The initiative came about as a result of a story about the Drug Center in the
July 10 issue of The Newtown Bee , which discussed actions the store was
taking on health-related issues.
Dr Kilchevsky said Danbury Hospital is strongly supportive of breast feeding
because it is the preferred nutrition for infants during the first year of
life. The program with the Drug Center was initiated because the store has
shown a strong commitment to health issues, he noted.
The program is exclusively with the Drug Center for the region east of Danbury
Hospital, though Dr Kilchevsky said a similar program may be launched with a
pharmacy west of the hospital.
"We want all breast feeding mothers to come here for their supplies and
information," Dr Kilchevsky said. "We want them to feel good about it. It is
the best way to nurture their baby."
"Breastfeeding is good for the mothers and for the babies," Mr Bates said.
Ms Dahlmeyer said the Drug Center provides "someplace you can call if you have
a problem" regarding breast feeding. "When you come to the Drug Center, there
is information available here."
Dr Kilchevsky said Danbury Hospital and the Drug Center will be available to
new mothers who have questions about breast feeding.
"We want them to call, to go to the next step for more instruction. We want to
help them achieve their goal of exclusive breast feeding," he said.
Mr Bates said area obstetricians and pediatricians will be advised of the
breast feeding program and the materials and information available to new
mothers.
For information about breast feeding, contact the Drug Center of Newtown at
426-4505 or Dr. Kilchevsky or Dr Edward James of Newborn Health Specialists
and the Danbury Office of Physician Services at Danbury Hospital, Monday to
Friday, at 203/797-7150.