Showing posts with label breastfeeding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label breastfeeding. Show all posts

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Family lounge and nursing room at Westfield Wheaton

I don't know how many people in the area know about this new-mom hidden treasure, but it is awesome and totally unexpected. In Wheaton, MD, just a bit north of DC in the suburbs, in the shopping mall formerly known as Wheaton Plaza and currently called Westfield Shoppingtown Wheaton, on the second floor near JC Penny, there is a food court. Right off the food court, there is a "family restroom." For years I have been frequenting this mall, and it never occured to me to check out the family restroom (of course, until recently, I never had much need for one). Anyway, I thought a family restroom merely referred to a large bathroom with one toilet and one sink where a mother could bring in her son or a father his daughter without bothering any other restroom users. Maybe that's still the case in some places, but not at Wheaton Plaza.

The "family restroom" here could better be described as an entire family lounge. When you walk in, to your left, along the wall, is a long row of changing tables (concave so baby doesn't roll out) with--think how clever this is--sinks right next to them. There is also a microwave (for warming baby food with caution, I guess) and an electric bottle-warmer. To your right, there is a play area for young children that has a child-size table and several child-size chairs and a television playing cartoons. Behind the play area, there are three nursing booths that resemble small changing rooms with armchairs and with curtains over the doors. These are perfect for any shy breastfeeders, although I find that many changing rooms in the mall are also more than adequate--and there is also a very comfortable sofa in Macy's ladies' room--if you find you need to nurse and are nowhere near the food court. Finally, at the back, there is the large bathroom part of the family restroom, but instead of one toilet and one sink, it contains one adult-sized toilet and sink and one child-sized toilet and sink.

Even if you don't need to use the family restroom, you might want to swing by just to marvel at it! The only downside I have found is that the cartoons are pretty loud, so an older baby may be distracted while nursing.

Additional props to Westfield: Wheaton Plaza also has reserved parking for expectant moms near many of its entrances.

For more info:

Locate nursing rooms throughout the country with the nursing room locator

Check out different types of nursing covers here

Free breastfeeding resources in DC


Breastfeeding is a big issue for new moms, maybe now more than ever. A national low in 1971 of 24.7% of babies breastfed at birth(1) has given way to the current high of 74.2%(2). This upward trend means that many new moms who would like to breastfeed were bottle-fed themselves and may be lacking role models in this department. Additionally, only 40% of DC residents are originally from DC(3), so even families that do have a breastfeeding tradition may not be around. And while most hospitals in the area provide breastfeeding assistance in the maternity ward, many new moms only begin to have breastfeeding difficulties after going home. Breastfeeding may be natural, but that doesn't mean it comes naturally for most people.

Fortunately, there are numerous resources available to assist with any breastfeeding problems that may arise at any point, and many of these are without cost. The La Leche League, for instance, provides information and help for free. Local chapters exist in communities throughout the US and other countries and hold regular meetings which anyone may attend. At meetings, leaders offer information, advice, and hands-on assistance. For DC-area chapters and schedules, see http://www.lllofmd-de-dc.org/index.shtml. Additionally, the La Leche League website is a great place to search for information.

Lactation consultants are another great resource to turn to, but sessions with a private lactation consultant can be pricey. Hospital-based lactation centers may be a less-expensive option, but there are also some free services available in the DC area. The National Breastfeeding Support Center, run by WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) in collaboration with Howard University, offers free breastfeeding support by lactation consultants (call 202-865-1316). The Breastfeeding Center for Greater Washington offers some services for a fee but also offers many free classes.

While breastfeeding may present challenges--such as pain during feedings, low milk supply, etc.--those who are able to overcome those challenges often find breastfeeding to be extremely rewarding. I encourage anyone who is interested in breastfeeding but encountering difficulties to check out the available resources.

1 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/99/4/e12
2 http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/faq/index.htm
3 http://planning.dc.gov/planning/frames.asp?doc=/planning/lib/planning/Winter_Quarterly_Report_07_2.pdf

For more info:


Welcome

This week, I started writing for the Examiner.com as the "DC new moms examiner" (or rather, one of the two DC new moms examiners), and it's been fun so far. But as they allow me to keep the rights to any of my posts unless they specifically say otherwise, and as they (naturally) discourage any writing that's too personal, I've decided to repackage my writing here. We'll see how that goes.

I guess it's ironic that the Examiner considers me an "expert" at being a new mom (hence the title of this blog).

If this blog doesn't last too long, my prediction is that will be because I find I do not have enough time for it; it's really not an exaggeration to say that taking care of a baby is full-time work. But he has to nap sometime, I guess :)

Anyway, welcome to my new blog. I hope you enjoy. I'm starting it off by reprinting the three Examiner.com articles I've already published.