La Leche League schedules classes

The Mat-Su chapter of the La Leche League will begin holding breast-feeding guideline classes for health care professionals this month, according to events coordinator Heidi Koslo. Beginning with a course on instructing patients on newborn positioning and latch-on techniques on Aug. 20, La Leche is teaming up with the Alaska Breast-feeding Coalition to teach the Valley breast-feeding sessions.

"Those [Mat-Su health care professionals] who want to branch out and get better educated about breast-feeding often can't get away to Anchorage," Koslo said. "We want to make sure those providers have the information they need to help mothers stay informed."

The classes will be taught by volunteers and will be free of charge. While the classes are geared toward health care professionals, anyone interested in learning more about breast-feeding and its relationship with health care providers is welcome to attend.

"It really focuses on explaining how to help a mother," Koslo said. "But anyone that is interested could benefit."

Koslo said it is extremely important to have new mothers' health care professionals be equipped to explain and teach breast-feeding techniques.

"A mother is in a very vulnerable state," she said. "If she doesn't have health care professionals to encourage her, it's too easy to say 'let's just use a bottle' and forget it; but there are just too many health concerns to have mothers do that."

Mothers interested in breast-feeding are encouraged to come to the La Leche League's monthly support and instruction meetings, held the third Tuesday of each month. Koslo said the times and places of these meetings can sometimes change, and it is best to get into contact with her or another La Leche member to find out details about the meetings.

Also, she said, Aug. 1-7 was World Breast-Feeding Week. The Mat-Su La Leche League chapter will be walking in Palmer's Alaska State Fair parade later this month to help celebrate the awareness week.

For more information about any of the Mat-Su La Leche League classes, contact Koslo at (907) 357-MILK.