MONTGOMERY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

(MISSOURI)

News

	Breastfeeding The Best Gift You Can Give Your Baby (and Yourself)
	Shingles Vaccine Available
	Want to Quit Smoking?
	Tobacco Cessation Program
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BREASTFEEDING The Best Gift You Can Give Your Baby (and Yourself)

Breastfeeding offers many advantages for both babies and mothers. Even if you hadn’t thought about breastfeeding before knowing how this can benefit both you and your baby may help you decide to breastfeed your baby.

Breastmilk is the perfect food for your baby. It’s nature’s perfect design for your baby’s growth and development. Breastmilk can’t be duplicated by commercial formulas. If you pay attention to advertising by formula companies, you will notice they say “most like mother’s milk”. They can’t identify all ingredients in breastmilk and, therefore, can’t copy it exactly.

Breastfed babies have fewer problems with constipation. The colostrum which comes in before the breastmilk and the mature breastmilk are both very easy to digest. A diet of only breastmilk produces loose bowel movements which are easy for the baby to pass.

Breastmilk protects your baby from diseases such as diarrhea and upper respiratory infection. The immunities that the mother passes through her milk are one the ingredients commercial formulas can’t duplicate. Breastfed babies have fewer food allergies, eczema, and asthma.

Breastfeeding is a special time of closeness for your baby and you. Even when babies are grown, many mothers reflect on the time spent breastfeeding with pride and pleasure.

Breastmilk is always ready when your baby is hungry. No matter where you are the milk is always at the right temperature and the correct amount. You can take your baby anywhere and know that your milk will be ready when baby is hungry.

Nursing causes the release of a hormone, oxytocin, which helps shrink your uterus back to its normal size after delivery. Breastfeeding helps you get back into shape faster. It uses some of the extra fat stored during pregnancy. Although some people think that breastfeeding will cause you to have saggy breast, this is generally related to the pregnancy and heredity.

Breastfeeding saves you money. You don’t have to buy formula and because baby is healthier, there are less trips to the doctor. Research has shown that breastfeeding may lower the mother’s chances for developing breast and ovarian cancer.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women and others who support breastfeeding are invited to attend Montgomery County Health Department’s Breastfeeding Support Group. The group meets the 3^rd Wednesday every month from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the health department, 400 N. Salisbury St. in Montgomery City. The next meeting will be December 21, 2011 when these and other benefits of breastfeeding will be discussed. Refreshments and door prizes will be available. If you have any questions or concerns regarding breastfeeding, feel free to call Kathie Hoette RN at 573-564-2495.

SHINGLES VACCINE AVAILABLE

A vaccine to prevent Shingles was licensed in the United States in 2006 and is now being offered to the public by Montgomery County Health Department. A single dose of shingles vaccine is indicated for adults 50 years of age and older.

Montgomery County Health Department is now able to bill some insurance for the cost of the shingles vaccine, but suggest that individuals that are interested call their insurance companies to determine coverage. Be sure to indicate that the Health Department will be the provider giving the vaccine. If you do not have insurance or your insurance will not cover the shingles vaccine then you may qualify for the Merck Vaccine Patient Assistance Program. If you qualify, then this program would cover the cost of the vaccine. Cost for the shingles vaccine is $175, due at time of injection or any applicable co-pays.

Please call the Montgomery County Health Department for more information or to make an appointment at 573-564-2495.

WANT TO QUIT SMOKING?

Classes are now available! The Montgomery County Health Department is now offering Smoking Cessation Classes. Classes are open to WIC participants, Women's Health Clinic clients and Youth-In- Need participants. Have you tried to quit in the past and couldn't? Our classes are there to give you helpful information and the support you will need to help you quit. We will also be offering Nicotine patches and Nicotine gum. If you think that now is your time to quit, please contact the Montgomery County Health Department for more information at 573-564-2495 or stop by our office at 400 Salisbury, Montgomery City, MO.

Montgomery County Health Department re-evaluates "Quit for Health" program and is switching from the Missouri Model for Brief Smoking Cessation training to the American Lung Association Freedom from Smoking Cessation program. Description follows:

MONTGOMERY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT TOBACCO CESSATION PROGRAM

Goals

	To increase tobacco cessation rates among adult tobacco users in Montgomery County.
	Decrease the exposure of secondhand smoke among families in Montgomery County.
	Improve the overall health and well-being of Montgomery County residents.

Interventions/Strategies

	Identify WIC participants, Women's Health Clinic clients and Youth-in-Need parents and their house hold members who are tobacco users.
	Identify Montgomery County employers to target, market and introduce the "Freedom From Smoking" tobacco cessation program at the worksite.
	Refer tobacco users to the Missouri Quitline.
	Offer a worksite FFS tobacco cessation program to Montgomery County employers.
	Offer FFS tobacco cessation classes to all WIC participants, Women's Health Clinic clients, Youth-in-Need parents and their household members.
	Provide individual counseling, self help manuals and tailored materials to those who express and interest in quitting, but choose not to participate in the tobacco cessation program.
	Provide monthly tobacco education to all WIC prenatals who use tobacco.

Planned Outcome

To increase tobacco cessation rates among adult tobacco users in Montgomery County while decreasing second hand smoke exposure to families thus, improving the overall health and well-being of Montgomery County residents.

Evaluation Plan

	Survey program participants to measure satisfaction with the intervention.
	Identify the number of program participants who have become tobacco free or reduced their tobacco usage at the end of the cessation program.
	Track the number of program participants who maintain their tobacco free lifestyle or decreased tobacco usage levels a 1 month, 3 months and 6 months post cessation program.
	Evaluate the success rate of participants using NRT compared to those without.