Tulsa Health Department's Women, Infants And Children Program Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week

The Tulsa County Health Department has a program to help women understand how to breastfeed and overcome challenges they may face.

They met on Tuesday as part of World Breastfeeding Week.

Yasmine Espinoza says this program helped her learn things about breastfeeding she didn't know, and without it, she wouldn't be as successful as she's been.

When Yasmine had her second baby, Violetta, she knew breastfeeding was something she wanted to do.

"I took the challenges that I had from the first one and kind of took them on head-on; however, I didn't have a huge support system," she said.

She found that support system through the Tulsa Health Department's Women, Infants and Children program.

Yasmine says because of that help, she's now breastfed her daughter for more than 15 months.

"It's not just feeding your baby, but you also have to maintain your nutrition, and you lose a lot of sleep, even in those first few months," she said.

Yasmine met breastfeeding peer counselor Leila Wade and says Leila has helped her baby's latching and positioning, how Yasmine can properly fuel her body, and so many other things that have helped.

Leila's been a peer counselor for three years and says it's rewarding. 

"Every baby is different, so if I can help her get that goal of breastfeeding, that's what we're all here for," Leila said.

Yasmine says she knows breastfeeding can be hard and sometimes it's not the best option for moms, but she wants them to know there are resources that can help them.

"Even just one mom, if one mom can take that advice and meet these wonderful ladies, that's one mom that I can help," she said.

Yasmine says her hope is to breastfeed Violetta until she is 2 years old.

For more information on the program, click here.