MiniBury

Brought to you by the Addison Independent

  • Home
  • About MiniBury
  • Archives
  • The Addison Independent
  • Sign up for the newsletter
  • Events Calendar
  • Summer Camp Guide 2022*
  • Stuff To Do

breastfeeding in Addison County (a guest post)

06.29.2013 By: Eliza, MiniBury Founder

This summer, MiniBury will be sharing stories, adventures and helpful ideas from local guest bloggers. If you’d like to participate, email us your ideas anytime! Today, guest blogger Gillian MacMurtry, a Registered Dietitian (MS RD) at the Middlebury Department of Health, shares information about breastfeeding in Vermont. She’s included tons of helpful resources and links for new and seasoned moms! 

Summer is officially here, which means I’m ready to get outside and so is everyone else! Warmth and sun make for exciting family trips to playgrounds, farmer’s markets, mountains, lakes and fairs around the state. But to me, the best part of these trips isn’t the weather or the crowds (or lack there of), instead I love that there’s always a space for breastfeeding mama’s to sit down and nurse.

If you didn’t know already, Vermont exceeds the national average of ever breastfed children by 4.2%. In Vermont, a whopping 81% of women have ever breastfed! Vermont and Colorado are in the lead nationally for the highest percentage of mothers still exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months with 23% in Vermont and 26% in Colorado. Go Vermont!

The real question is, how is Addison County doing with breastfeeding? Well, we have some of the best breastfeeding rates throughout the state with Porter Hospital consistently ranking 1st or 2nd in the state for the most women breastfeeding upon discharge (approximately 94% of women). Within the WIC program (Women, Infants and Children) in Addison County, approximately 60% of women were breastfeeding in October 2012. This number is continually increasing and with all that Addison County is doing, it’s no wonder!

So, what is going on in Addison County to promote breastfeeding? There are a number of groups and classes led by a variety of people including Lactation Consultants (IBCLC’s), La Leche League, WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselors, WIC, and more.

There is a local online newsletter called “Keeping Abreast” which comes out quarterly. It’s filled with helpful resources and ideas to keep you motivated and supported during your breastfeeding journey. Keeping Abreast is put out jointly by the Addison County Breastfeeding Coalition and the Breastfeeding Project of Rutland County. In the newsletter, you will find updated breastfeeding class schedules, new breastfeeding research, and other local events. If you want to receive this helpful newsletter, simply email your full name and email address to me at Gillian.Macmurtry@state.vt.us.

This July the “Keeping Abreast” newsletter will be highlighting events taking place for World Breastfeeding Week, August 1st to August 7th. In Addison County, there will be a celebratory picnic August 1ˢᵗ to kick off World Breastfeeding Week on the town green at 11:30 a.m.. There will also be Breastfeeding Standees (life-size cut outs of breastfeeding women) spread all over businesses in Vergennes and Middlebury throughout the week with prizes to those who find them and post a picture on our Vermont Department of Health -Middlebury Facebook wall. From August 6th to August 10th there will be a presence at Field Days with the VT Health Department ‘Nursing Nook’ which is a clean, cool space for moms and moms-to-be to relax and breastfeed their babies. Don’t forget to check it out!

Learn more about what’s going on by calling the Middlebury Health Department at 388-5741.

Related Posts

  • FREE summer meals around Addison County for Kids

    Summer's officially (almost) here! Time to break out the swim suits, flip flops and relax. However,…

  • Addison County WRITER OF THE MONTH CONTEST

    Do you have a son or daughter that loves writing? Check this out: Young Addison…

  • guest post - Little Explorers VI

    While we adjust to life as a family of 5, a few local bloggers kindly…

Eliza, MiniBury Founder

Hello, I’m Eliza. I founded MiniBury in 2012 because I had a hunch that I wasn't the only parent in Addison County missing fun family friendly events. I love the challenge of finding and sharing information about our community to other parents.

Upcoming Events

Jun
28
Tue
9:30 am Pre-K Art In The Garden @ Ilsley Library Garden
Pre-K Art In The Garden @ Ilsley Library Garden
Jun 28 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Join a children’s librarian in the garden for drop-in art activities.
Jun
29
Wed
9:15 am Drop-In Storytime With Miss Tricia @ Ilsley Library
Drop-In Storytime With Miss Tricia @ Ilsley Library
Jun 29 @ 9:15 am – 10:00 am
Children ages 5 and under and their caregivers enjoy stories and songs with Miss Tricia!
9:30 am Vergennes Playgroup @ Vergennes Congregational Church
Vergennes Playgroup @ Vergennes Congregational Church
Jun 29 @ 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Addison County Parent Child Center and Evergreen Preschool are excited to announce they will be starting their playgroup again. Come join the fun every Wednesday for the month of May at the Vergennes Congregational Church.
9:30 am Virtual Mama Group @ Zoom
Virtual Mama Group @ Zoom
Jun 29 @ 9:30 am
Meet other mamas in this virtual gathering led by Middlebury mom Angela Scavo. Email Angela for the meeting link.
11:00 am Singalong With Linda Bassick @ Vergennes City Green
Singalong With Linda Bassick @ Vergennes City Green
Jun 29 @ 11:00 am
Little ones and their caregivers gather on the green for a singalong!
3:30 pm D&D @ Ilsley @ Ilsley Library
D&D @ Ilsley @ Ilsley Library
Jun 29 @ 3:30 pm
We’ve got dungeons! We’ve got dragons! We’ve got shiny dice! On Wednesdays, any and all middle schoolers can come beat the villain (or your DM)! Participants will create characters, paint a minifigure to act as [...]
7:00 pm Bristol Band Music in the Park @ Bristol Town Green
Bristol Band Music in the Park @ Bristol Town Green
Jun 29 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
The Bristol Band, which has been making music since 1870, plays under the gazebo on the green. Special events include: June 22: BBQ July 13: First Baptist Church brownie sundaes August 3: St. Ambrose BBQ
9:30 pm Stargazing Open House @ Mittelman Observatory
Stargazing Open House @ Mittelman Observatory
Jun 29 @ 9:30 pm – 11:00 pm
The college telescopes are open to the public for stargazing, weather permitting. Observatory open house nights are free and open to the public. However, these events will take place only if the sky is expected [...]
Jun
30
Thu
10:00 am Little Fishes Storytime @ Platt ... @ Platt Memorial Library
Little Fishes Storytime @ Platt ... @ Platt Memorial Library
Jun 30 @ 10:00 am
Toddlers and preschoolers enjoy stories and activities.
10:30 am Bixby Storytime @ Vergennes City Green
Bixby Storytime @ Vergennes City Green
Jun 30 @ 10:30 am
Join the Children’s Librarian outdoors by the gazebo on the city green for stories, songs, and rhymes. This program is designed for preschool-aged children and their caregivers. Kids of all ages are welcome!
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML

Helpful Websites

  • Addison Central School District
  • Addison County Readers
  • Addison County WIC page
  • Addison Independent
  • Addison Northwest School District
  • Bristol Recreation Department
  • Building Bright Futures
  • Experience Middlebury
  • Find and Go Seek
  • Ilsley Public Library
  • Junebug
  • Kids VT
  • Let's Grow Kids
  • Mary Johnson Children's Center
  • Memorial Sports Center (Ice Rink)
  • Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT)
  • Middlebury College Events
  • Middlebury Community Music Center
  • Middlebury Parks and Recreation
  • Middlebury Weather
  • Mount Abraham Unified School District
  • National Association of Education of Young Children
  • Rikert Nordic Center
  • Simon Says
  • Snow Bowl
  • VT Dept. of Health
  • WIC Health

Copyright © 2022 · Modern Blogger Pro Theme By, Pretty Darn Cute Design