Healthy Active Arkansas (HAA) and the Junior League of Little Rock (JLLR) have partnered again this year to offer a breastfeeding nook for breastfeeding moms as part of the 2018 Holiday House. The nook is a comfortable, private space for mothers who need to breastfeed their children or pump while visiting the event. This is the second year that a designated breastfeeding space has been offered as part of Holiday House.
Peer counselors from the Arkansas Department of Health will be at the breastfeeding nook and available to answer questions about breastfeeding.
“Holiday House is one of the state’s biggest shopping events of the season, and it attracts thousands of people, many of whom are new moms who are breastfeeding,” Arkansas First Lady and breastfeeding advocate, Susan Hutchinson said. “We are excited that the Junior League has made the Nursing Nook a feature of the event again this year, and hope this serves as an inspiration to other event coordinators across the state to offer similar amenities during community events.”
JLLR President, Kim Logue agrees, "We are excited to partner for the second year with Healthy Active Arkansas to provide a comfortable and private space for breastfeeding mothers. Our shoppers greatly appreciated this important addition to Holiday House last year, and we are glad to offer it again for Holiday House 2018 - especially since nutrition and wellness are primary focus areas of the League."
Breastfeeding has many benefits for both mom and baby. For baby, it has been linked to a reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome, ear and upper respiratory infections in infants, and obesity over the lifespan. In addition, breastfeeding benefits mothers by reducing their risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer and aids in losing weight gained during pregnancy. Mothers who receive support to breastfeed, through their family, employer, or community are more likely to continue exclusively breastfeeding for the recommended six months’ timeframe.
Individuals or organizations interested in learning how they can support breastfeeding can learn more by visiting the Arkansas Breastfeeding Coalition at www.arbfc.org. The Expressly for You breastfeeding helpline (501) 202-7378 is also available 24 hours, 7 days a week to mothers who have questions or need advice.
The JLLR’s Holiday House is an annual shopping event that helps support JLLR community projects including Stuff the Bus, Nightingales, LYFE, Kota Camp, Nonprofit Board Institute, Little Readers Rock and Boosters & Big Rigs. Arkansas Children’s Hospital is a presenting sponsor for this year’s Holiday House, and is a founding partner of Healthy Active Arkansas.
Healthy Active Arkansas is the Governor Hutchinson-endorsed 10-year framework to increase the number of Arkansans at a healthy weight. There are nine priority areas, including breastfeeding, that include evidence-based strategies that impact the health of the state.