Organizers impressed with turnout, community support at fourth annual event

MOSES LAKE — Breastfest 2005 in Civic Park brought the largest number of businesses and families in the four years Moses Lake has held the event.

Organized by the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program and the Moses Lake Breastfeeding Coalition, Breastfest was held in celebration of World Breastfeeding Week.

Festivities kicked off at 10:30 a.m. with a symbolic walk around Civic Park, followed by guest speakers and several community businesses that came to show support for breastfeeding moms.

Summer Overberg, a mother of two who chose to breastfeed both her children, recently moved to Moses Lake from Lewiston, Idaho and said she has yet to see a community like Moses Lake that offers so many services to breastfeeding moms.

Having support and access to resources is key, Overberg said.

That is something Jodie Sainsbury, now the lead coordinator for the Moses Lake Breastfeeding Coalition after Debe Nuss stepped down from the position, wants to focus on.

Discussions are scheduled to take place later this year about the possibility of starting up a lactation center in Moses Lake for expecting and new mothers and their families.

"I think we're finally getting the word out that breastfeeding is the standard not the exception," Sainsbury said.

Sharing personal experiences with breastfeeding was also part of the celebration.

Cindy Webb, a mother of four who is expecting her fifth child, recalled being scared and uncertain about making the decision to breastfeed as a first-time mother.

Being young and inexperienced, Webb said she was unaware of the benefits of breastfeeding, but is glad she made the decision to switch from infant formula to breast milk.

It's much more sanitary, Webb said of breastfeeding.

"Breast milk is always there, it's inexpensive and it's always the right temperature," said midwife Sherry Russell, who has been working in women's healthcare for 30 years and who spoke at Tuesday's event.

Other benefits, Russell added, are that breast milk contains the proper amount of proteins and fats, reduces the chances of childhood illnesses and allergies.

"It's this fabulous thing you can do to spend time with your baby that no one else can do," Russell said.

Blades Salon, Dr. Sloan Jorgensen and Samaritan Hospital of Moses Lake received recognition at Breastfest for providing support and space in their businesses for moms to breastfeed.

"We hope that they'll be the trendsetters," said Lactation Consultant and member of the Moses Lake Breastfeeding Coalition Debe Nuss.