August is a special month of celebration and support as the Fresno EOC WIC program marks its 50th anniversary and joins in on National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. This time is all about honoring moms and their unique breastfeeding journeys.
Breastfeeding is a natural and personal choice, however it is often a topic of public discussion. Every mom’s experience is different – some have it easy, and others face challenges. Whether it’s a mom’s first child or her sixth, every baby brings a new adventure. Everyone loves to offer advice, from family members to strangers at the grocery store, but real support can sometimes be hard to find.
In the past, new moms had a whole village of support from family and neighbors. In today’s society, that kind of help isn’t always around, making it more important than ever. That’s where Fresno EOC WIC steps in. They’re here to support parents every step of the way, no matter how they choose to feed their babies.
Fresno EOC WIC has a fantastic team ready to help – seven International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC), 32 Certified Lactation Educator Counselors/Specialists (CLEC/CLES), and five breastfeeding peer counselors. They teach parents about breastfeeding basics, handling challenges, breastfeeding in public, returning to work, expressing and storing breastmilk, and much more.
This August, Fresno EOC WIC kicked off the celebrations by joining the 16th Annual Breastfeeding Awareness Walk at Woodward Park, hosted by the Fresno County Breastfeeding Coalition. It was a day filled with fun and support as families and friends walked together to raise awareness.
Each Fresno EOC WIC site is also holding their own celebrations, honoring breastfeeding moms with special events. But the highlight of the month is the upcoming grand festival at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo on Saturday, August 17th. For the first time, WIC is partnering with the zoo to host an Elephant Baby Shower for the resident elephant, who is expecting calves.
The community is invited to join this unique event at the zoo. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate both the expecting elephant and the amazing moms in our community. Families can look forward to a fun-filled day with plenty of activities for kids and a chance for parents to connect and share their experiences.
As the month continues, these celebrations highlight the importance of supporting moms on their unique feeding journeys. With Fresno EOC WIC by their side, no parent has to face their journey alone.