Breast Health and Breastfeeding Programs

Hudson Breast Health Initiative: This grant-based initiative is funded by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, North Jersey Affiliate. The program provides medicine, surgical supplies, and wigs for uninsured women who have breast cancer. The initiative stresses the importance of performing breast self-exam for women of childbearing age. Breast self-exam information is available in eight languages. Information is given to women who access free pregnancy testing and at a wide variety of health fairs and community baby showers. Additional services are provided for participants. Wigs are provided for clients undergoing chemotherapy. Wig, bra and prostheses fittings are now available in the Consortium office or at the client’s home if needed.

Triple Touch: Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in women. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. This program is offered in concert with the American Cancer Society to train health care providers teach others how to identify the three parts of a good breast health plan, follow breast cancer screening guidelines, perform breast self-examination with confidence and act promptly if any breast changes are found.

Hudson Breastfeeding Initiative: The Hudson Breastfeeding Initiative encourages breastfeeding among women enrolled in Hudson County WIC. The Initiative combines hospital visitation, prenatal classes, postpartum consultation, telephone support and home visiting for women in the WIC program.

Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Training: Innovative training to instruct allied healthcare and support staff as breastfeeding peer counselors, stressing the benefits of breastfeeding infants, is available. The eighteen-hour course is held over six days on topics covering Advantages and Myths of Breastfeeding, Physiology and Preparation, Common Concerns, Special Situations, Practice Counseling, and Counseling Tips and Techniques.

Consumer Information: The Initiative provides basic breastfeeding information in fourteen languages. Additional brochures covering a wide range of concerns are available. A consumer brochure "Breastfeeding is Baby's Best Start” includes information about how to get breastfeeding started, how to tell if the baby is getting enough to eat, and lists area phone numbers where a mother can get help and information.

Professional Education: The Consortium coordinated or cosponsored two professional education programs about breastfeeding for physicians and nurses, “Lactation 101,” and “Current Issues in Pharmacology and Lactation.”

World Breastfeeding Week in August: The Consortium’s Breastfeeding Committee plans a World Breastfeeding Week celebration each year.