Lee County, FL— An Open House at the Women Infants and Children Breastfeeding Welcome Center, 3920 Michigan Avenue, Fort Myers from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, August 3, 2015 begins World Breastfeeding Week in Lee, Hendry and Glades counties with information and support for new moms returning to work.

“Our goal is to increase awareness of women’s breastfeeding rights in the workplace so we no longer hear moms tell us they stopped breastfeeding because they returned to work,” said Betsey Lunsford, IBCLC, breastfeeding consultant for the Florida Department of Health in Lee County. “We want moms who want the best for their babies and themselves to use WIC as a resource.”

The Working and Breastfeeding, Let’s Make it Work! Open House begins a month of classes in English and Spanish with guest speakers including doctors, nurses, breastfeeding counselors, Department of Labor officials and more. Pregnant women, newborn babies, mothers, employers, medical practitioners and child care center operators are invited to talk with Lactation Consultants, peer counselors and each other.

“Women are not always aware of their rights or of how to discuss the need to express their milk while working,” said Lunsford. Staff will offer class signup, demonstrate and answer questions about baby wearing, connect moms with breastfeeding support groups, explain how to get breast pumps and how to successfully separate for work or school after your baby is at least 6 weeks old.

Speakers are listed on the DOH-Lee website under upcoming events and on the attached calendar.

For more information call (239) 332-9615 or Giomar Veloz, LD/N, (239) 656-2534.