World Breastfeeding Week is held the first week of August, and to honor and support local mothers, CHRISTUS Children’s Women, Infants and Children threw a celebration for Kerrville mothers.
The event was hosted at the Kerrville WIC Office and local mothers were invited to converse with vendors, meet with staff, and participate in giveaways.
Amy Carillo, WIC Certification Specialist, coordinated the event in dedication to her community. Carillo is the longest serving member at the WIC Office, with a decade of experience working with mothers in the Hill Country. Carillo began at WIC as a client, a young mother looking to support her family. She then got involved as a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor before her current position.
Another staff member at Kerrville WIC Services, Nurse Jeanne Wilmot, elaborated on the purpose behind the event, “We’re celebrating World Breastfeeding Week. We are asking breastfeeding mothers to come in and enjoy our celebration. It’s just a way of recognizing and promoting breastfeeding.”
A variety of vendors participated in the event, providing a vast array of resources for expecting or new mothers.
Representatives from the Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Center, Pregnancy Resource Center, and a Lactation Specialist from Peterson Health were among vendors who gathered to speak with mothers about breastfeeding.
Though WIC is a supplemental program which provides food resources to mothers and their children, Nurse Wilmot wanted to be sure to promote the health benefits of breastfeeding.
“We always say breastfed is best. There’s evidence of lower incidences of Sudden Infant Loss (SIDs), diabetes, and colon cancer.” explains Wilmot.
Breastfeeding doesn’t just prevent illness, it also can help fight off existing sickness. Wilmot elaborates, “There’s a whole bunch of natural antibodies that can only be found in breastmilk, can’t get them from anywhere else.”
The challenges of breastfeeding and childcare as a whole can be more difficult than assumed. When breastfeeding isn’t a viable option, resources like Kerrville WIC Services are here to help.
“We always encourage breastfeeding, but if a mother and child need formula, we provide that as well for free.” says Wilmot.
For more information on Kerrville Women, Infants and Children Services, visit the office at 836 Sidney Baker, Suite F.