PA-Breastfeeding Coalition Minutes, January 21, 2004 - Bridge call

Present by Phone:
Jeanne Spencer, Kathie Wagner, Andrea Schappert, Maryanne Mihok, Barb Shocker, Helen Vermilya, Tracy Brown, Wendy Shore, Heidi Koppenhofer, Rosa Snyder-Boyd, Theresa Wirtner, Kay Hoover, Ruth Soloman, Cindy Maki, Christy Zacchero, Ruth Wilf, Ginny Whitehaus, Karen Foard

Treasurer’s Report: In Kathy Romberger’s absence, Karen read the treasurer’s report balance of $2378.30. Members are asked to keep records of in-kind donations, including the cost of this phone call. Dollar amounts can be sent to Rosa.

Membership Report: Heidi asked how to join; Rose will send information to her, and asked for master copies of the membership brochure. The master will be sent to Rosa so she has it to make copies as needed. Ginny said she would like information about renewing her membership.

Up coming meeting dates: 4/21/04 in Somerset at the Ramada Inn; 7/7/04 at the Pinnacle offices in Harrisburg; 10/20/04 in State College at the South Ridge Motor Inn, and next year’s bridge call will be 1/19/05. Directions to all meeting locations will be posted on the web site, and the home page will include an announcement box for upcoming meetings.

Website: Suggestions made to merge the policies and guidelines buttons, clear up titles of different sections, update the Human Milk in the NICU guidelines (will contact Martha Kautz for most recent version), and to have all members send to Karen Foard a blurb about any conferences they would like to encourage members to attend. Conference blurbs should include date, sponsoring agency, location, cost, and contact information. A link that was recommended to be added to the site was:
www.massbfc.org/news/index.html#ethics
for both ad council updates and other good information.

Jeanne asked if we could get some photos on the site; she will send some to Karen for submission to our web master for addition to the PABC site. Minutes wil be added in draft form so people can review before meeting.

Members are asked to periodically check any links listed on the site and send any updates to Karen if a link is broken.

Update on the Ad Council Campaign: Still looking at spring for release. Kay Hoover described some of the scenarios of the ads based on information she received at the Florida conference that she attended, and will include phrases such as “you wouldn’t take this kind of risk when pregnant, why take this risk after your baby is born. Babies were meant to be breastfed.” In an newsletter put out by Amy Spangler, the ads were asked to delete mention of some fo the % of risk associated with certain diseases.

Chris Mulford will be asked how other TV stations besides those in the target areas can get the ads.

Cindy Maki told us of a theme that WIC is using that emphasizes what formula lacks and its impact. She has sent a few notices to companies who have been reportedly unsupportive of breastfeeding; if anyone has names of business that are unsupportive of breastfeeding she can send a letter form the Department of Health asking them to be more supportive. Chris Mulford would also like names and information for places that have been unsupportive so as to document problems that women encounter; the Public Policy committee can then act on that information. Cindy also shared about a potential job opening for a bf coordinator for the state. Her staff has been trained on the Healthy Baby Help Line.

Tracy Brown stated that she has had some discussions with school teachers about how supportive their districts are (or aren’t) of breastfeeding.

Christy Zacchero—has the Medela reimbursement packet and will bring to the April meeting.

Kay Hoover- there is a lot of hoopla at the national level about safe co-sleeping, with some states advertising that it is not safe. The Philadelphia Department of Health said it doens’ make sense that it wouldn’t be safe; Linda Smith in Ohio is working on information to promote at the national level to promote safe co-sleeping

Ruth S- made mention of something about pharmacists but yours truly the secretary must have been listening so well that got to write her info down- can anyone help fill in this blank?!

Tracy Brown- gave information about the conference in Philly on pre-terms, and on May 14, the NJ BF Task force sponsoring Dr. Low Dog.

Thersa Wirtner: had the BF 1 and 2 WIC training in her area, with doctor and nurses form local practices participating in bf information sessions.

Rosa Snyder-Boyd- Family Health Council peer counseling training is going well, their rates are up. She has exchanged her classics for symphonies.

Heidi K- she is a new IBCLC—CONGRATULATIONS! She thanks Kathie Wagner and Kay Hoover for their help.

Barb Shocker—looking for job description of a non-RN LC in hospital Please send if you have one. Kay volunteered her job description from prior job.

Information was shared about infant botulism. Babies can get it from spores in the air—bf infants most likely to be admitted with this condition, as they would still be alive to be admitted. Symptoms include lack of stooling, lethargy, loose muscle tone, and sleepiness. Kay is faxing info to Barb Shocker.

Kathie Wagner- Family Health Council has been awarded a grant, to be used to increase duration rates for bf peer counseling, will be seeing clients in clinic, 18.5 hours per week.

Helen Vermilya- wants to get an outpatient lactation center started in Williamsport—will talk to Kathy Romberger and Martha Kautz for info on theirs.

Wendy Shore—keeping on with her bags

Karn Foard- information about the PAMILC 2004 Time for Breastfeeding Calendars, featureing central PA babies and mothers. Will be doing a 2005 project also.

Jeanne Spencer- Laurel Highlands BF Coalition got a grant to fund in home bf support program, with multiple visits. Getting information to docs. Jeanne wanted info from LC’s who teach residents to ask for a checklist of what they have residents do. Talk to Nancy Brent and Barb Shocker.

If anyone hears of new IBCLC’s in their area, please let Karen or Rosa know so we can contact them with information about the coalition.