Breastfeeding offers many benefits to your baby. Breast milk contains the right balance of nutrients to help your infant grow into a strong and healthy toddler. Some of the nutrients in breast milk also help protect your infant against some common childhood illnesses and infections. It may also help your health. Certain types of cancer may occur less often in mothers who have breastfed their babies. The Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition provides resources and support to Nursing Mothers – know your rights here in Massachusetts. Heywood Hospital in Gardner also offers a Breastfeeding Support Group – see their group flyer below!
The Safe Haven Act of Massachusetts (2004) allows a parent to legally surrender newborn infants 7 days old or younger at a hospital, police station, or manned fire station without facing criminal prosecution. The Safe Haven Act is an amendment to Chapter 119 of the Massachusetts General Laws, section 39.5. The law went into effect on October 29, 2004. For more information visit: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dcf/babysafehaven/
Healthy Families is a newborn home visiting program that supports young, first-time parents and helps them create stable, nurturing environments for their children. The program matches parents with trained professionals who visit families’ homes to provide support during pregnancy and the child’s first three years of life. Home visitors teach parents about proper baby care, promote nurturing and attachment, practice effective parenting skills, and ensure parents have a solid understanding of healthy child development. They also counsel parents on achieving personal goals such as going back to school or securing a job. For more information about Health Families and their services in North Worcester County visit their website: http://childrenstrustma.org/our-programs/healthy-families
The YWCA Young Parents Program (YPP) Central Massachusetts offers support services to pregnant and parenting teens between the ages of 16 and 20 through its Young Parents Program (YPP). Through this program, teen parents and pregnant teens have the opportunity to complete their high school education through a GED preparation program. Teen parents also receive community-based assistance while preparing for their GED such as childcare, case management, life and parenting skills training, job search assistance, career exploration and more. For more information visit: http://www.ywcacentralmass.org/support/young-parents-program
WIC is a free nutrition program that provides healthy foods, nutrition education,
breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other services to Massachusetts families who qualify. WIC stands for Women, Infants and Children. WIC’s goal is to keep pregnant and
breastfeeding women and kids under 5 healthy. To apply for WIC, call 1-800-WIC-10071-800-WIC-1007 or contact a WIC Program in your community. Visit WIC’s website for more information: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/consumer/basic-needs/food/wic/
Online Support for Postpartum Mood Disorders - Postpartum mood disorders are real. They are treatable. Visit the Online Postpartum Mood Support Group: http://ppdsupportpage.com/