August 3 – ROCHESTER – Mothers connected with each other and received important information and other family resources during an event at Soldiers Field Memorial Park on Saturday, August 3, 2024.
The 13th Annual Breastfeeding Celebration, hosted by the Rochester Regional Breastfeeding Coalition, aims to improve the health of people in southeastern Minnesota by promoting breastfeeding as the optimal feeding choice for babies through education, advocacy, collaboration, and increasing access to support.
The annual event began when members of the coalition realized they were doing nothing for World Breastfeeding Month, in August. The event brings together resources and support for new and expectant mothers, but also includes raffles, food and activities for children.
“We just want to start it (World Breastfeeding Month) with celebration,” said coalition member Liz De La Cruz. “We want to celebrate mothers, celebrate the families in the community and have fun with the kids.”
After 13 years, De La Cruz feels like she and the coalition have everything under control, even though the event has adapted and grown over the years.
“Our first year we were actually in Quarry Hill, in the little pavilion because it was only $35 (to rent),” De La Cruz said. “There were maybe 30 people, half of them were staff, so it’s really grown since then. So what’s really changed is probably more of a community presence as we get better, plus social media.”
The party is a way for mothers to find the information they need and talk to other mothers at the same time.
“We’re in a bigger city and it’s easy to get lost,” De La Cruz said. “So those community connections can really help. An event like this not only normalizes breastfeeding, which is sometimes a concern, but it also brings those community resources to light.” Gaining that knowledge in a face-to-face setting helps, she said.
The event can also help medical professionals and organizations connect with people who have questions or needs.
“We always make sure that we have resources in the area that are geared toward nursing or expecting parents,” De La Cruz said. “The resources are great for them, but it’s also great for the community to know what’s out there. Especially if you work in that area, you can come here and kind of build a network as well, so it’s both a social network and a community type event.”
Other organizations, including Olmsted Medical Center and WIC, made sure to have professionals on hand at the event to answer questions new or expectant mothers may have.
These organizations answered questions such as: “How long can breast milk be stored?” and “How do I know if my baby is eating enough?”
“The new moms, the families, the breastfeeding advocates are really excited to come here,” said Annie Klenner, a lactation consultant at Olmsted Medical Center. “It helps normalize breastfeeding and educate moms about the resources that are actually out there so they’re not alone in their journey.”
De La Cruz and the coalition are working hard to normalize breastfeeding. She emphasized that their events are for anyone who wants more resources, knowledge and support for their families.
The event attracts mothers and children of all ages. Annie Wuertz was attending for the first time this year. She had heard of the event before, but had never been.
Wuertz has three children and breastfeeding is a different experience for her every time. She had her third child 18 months ago and felt like she had more questions this time around. She decided to attend the celebration and was excited to connect with other resources and mothers in the area.
“Motherhood definitely takes a village, as they say, and I’ve found that with every progressive child I have, I have a stronger community, a stronger village, and I’ve seen a lot more success,” Wuertz said. “I think knowing the information is one thing, but I think knowing where to find the information and getting out into your communities, that’s what makes the difference.”
