Hi Lisa.  I am a breastfeeding peer counselor for WIC in SC.  I am learning so much through this job (and Lactnet!) and would recommend this type of program to anyone.   I just started in October, but I can already see a difference in the number of women I see and talk to...the interest in breastfeeding is growing and I am starting a support class next month.  WIC encourages peer counselors because they know that they are effective (which, in turn, saves WIC money on formula.)  It's also a great opportunity for the counselor to see new problems and find new solutions.  Not to mention how changing someone's mind about breastfeeding can really make it all worthwhile.  :)

Email me off list if I can be of any help to you.

Gena Henderson
WIC breastfeeding peer counselor
South Carolina DHEC

 
> Date:    Wed, 18 Jan 2006 13:00:23 -0500
> From:    Lisa Reed <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Peer Counseling for Breastfeeding
> 
> Hi! My name is Lisa Reed and I am a junior nursing student from the=20
> University of North Dakota. I am in my childbearing class this semester=20
> and am interested in learning about peer counseling for breastfeeding. I=20
> have reviewed the archives on this listserv and have been reading the=20
> discussions posted here daily for the last week. In my archives search I=20
> saw that this topic hasn=92t been addressed for over five years!
>  As some are already aware, the number of breastfeeding women has=20
> increased; however, there is still much work to be done. Results of=20
> Healthy People 2000 indicate an especially poor turnout of those who are=20
> low-income, black, or Hispanic, for example. (CDC, 1999). A trial=20
> performed by Anderson, Damio, Young, Chapman, & Perez-Escamilla (2005)=20
> showed the benefits of peer counseling in promoting EBF. Hoddinott & Pill=20
> (2000) point out that women prefer to be shown how to breastfeed their=20
> infants as opposed to being told how to do it.
>  I would appreciate any feedback you may have about peer=20
> counseling. I am interested in knowing the basics of how your peer=20
> counseling program works, and also what the outcome of it is. If you do=20
> not have a peer counseling program at your institution, do you think it=20
> would be a good idea to implement one, and what guidelines would you have=20
> for it? Basically, what works and what doesn=92t? Any comments or=20
> suggestions are appreciated. Thank you!=20
> 
> Lisa Reed, SN 

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