Adagio Health WIC provides support to Spanish-speaking breastfeeding moms

Adagio Health WIC provides support to Spanish-speaking breastfeeding moms

Classes and support groups scheduled for early 2023

Pittsburgh, PA (January 18, 2023) – Adagio Health WIC offices located in Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence counties will now offer free prenatal classes and support groups for WIC eligible and WIC breastfeeding moms that feature Spanish translation services. The groups will be led by Adagio Health Breastfeeding Peer Counselors and are grant-funded by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) First Foods program.

“This project allows us to reach a diverse community by providing an additional opportunity to create a breastfeeding support system for our Spanish-speaking families,” said Britney Zwergel, Vice President of Nutrition and Education at Adagio Health. “We’re excited to bring these new support groups to the area in collaboration with one of our really terrific WIC participants.”

WIC participant Laura Lora will provide Spanish translation services to the groups, and staff members are committed to learning Spanish through Rosetta Stone lessons to even better help connect with and support moms.

“Having extra support and knowledge during my own experience breastfeeding my babies has been invaluable,” said Ms. Lora. “And I am happy to help break the language barrier for other moms to be set for success with great resources and a support system.”

The goal of the classes and support groups for Spanish-speaking moms is to improve breastfeeding rates and guide moms on their breastfeeding journeys. The first support group is scheduled for January 19, and the first class is scheduled one week later on January 26. Subsequent classes and support groups will take place in March and May.

Topics for the classes include what to expect while breastfeeding; what to expect in the hospital; how to get prepared; and support services available. Discussions within the support group will be led by breastfeeding moms and moderated by a peer counselor.

The AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months, then continuing breastfeeding alongside the introduction of complementary foods. However, a 2019 CDC survey states that rates of exclusive breastfeeding after 3 months in Pennsylvania dramatically decrease by almost half.

Adagio Health’s Breastfeeding Peer Counselors Program was implemented in 2005 and is funded by the USDA. Peer counselors provide basic breastfeeding information and encouragement to pregnant and breastfeeding participants, following the USDA “Loving Support” model. Adagio Health WIC offices provide breastfeeding promotion and support, nutrition education and counseling, food insecurity screening, and access to well-stocked, no cost food cupboards.

For more information on WIC services and breastfeeding support, visit https://www.adagiohealth.org/wic or call 1-866-942-2778.

WIC of Beaver County
140 Beaver Valley Mall, Route 18
Monaca, PA 15061

WIC of Butler County
323 Sunset Drive, Suite 1
Butler, PA 16001

WIC of Lawrence County
200 South Jefferson Street
New Castle, PA 16101