On April 4, 2017 at the San Juan Oaks Golf Club, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of San Benito County hosted a successful workshop entitled, “The Sacred Hour and Beyond,” with over 75 guests in attendance. Workshop co-sponsors included Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, California WIC/Community Bridges, First 5 San Benito, PAC/LAC, California Breastfeeding Coalition, and Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.

Featured guest speaker Dr. Raylene Phillips, MD, MA, IBCLC, FABM, FAAP illustrated the importance of preserving and protecting the hour immediately after birth for skin-to-skin bonding between mother and child, and all its innumerable  physiological benefits, in addition to its vital role in the facilitation of successful breastfeeding initiation. Beyond that, she discussed practical ways in which the sacred hour may still be honored for stable newborns and mothers in both vaginal and cesarean births. Dr. Phillips is a neonatologist at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, and is the co-director of of the Newborn Nursery at Loma Linda Medical Center in Murrieta. Read Dr. Philipp’s article, “Uninterrupted Skin-to-Skin Contact Immediately After Birth.”

Dr. Phillips presenting on April 4, 2017

Attendee Rene Stewart, RN, of Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, Women’s Center said, “It was an excellent workshop and beautiful venue. We are excited to implement the best care practices that were presented and look forward to more workshops in the future.”

Future projects for the coalition include a community Baby Shower to be held during World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7.

Coalition member Jana Tomasini said, “We are always eager to invite community members at large to join the collation to work on breastfeeding promotion projects as we work towards improving the health and wellbeing of mothers, babies and families through education, access and community action in San Benito County.”

Left to right: Jana Tomasini, RN, IBCLC, Hazel Hawkins, Lynn Mello, Director of Nursing/Public Health Adminstrator, San Benito County Public Health Services, Czarina Bowers, Birth & Postpartum Doula Services, Dr. Raylene Phillips, MD, FAAP, FABM, IBCLC, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, Robbie Gonzalez-Dow, Regional Breastfeeding Liaison, Community Bridges WIC Program and CBC Executive Director, Nancy Diehl, PHN, San Benito County Public Health Services 

Attendee breastfeeds her baby. They know what the Sacred Hour is all about!

To view and download the event flyer, click here:  The Sacred Hour and Beyond Seminar Flyer

Currently, HMHBSBC is collaborating with First 5 San Benito to offer scholarships to two community members to attend a week-long certified lactation counselor (CLC) training in Salinas in May. More information, including how to apply, is available by contacting Jana at jtomasini@hazelhawkins.com.