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Rumina is the Roman Goddess of
Breastfeeding and the guardian of nursing infants. Her name,
which is related to an old Latin work for breast, “rumis” or
“ruma,” translates to “the Nourisher.”
Breastfeeding has tremendous health and emotional
benefits for you and your baby, which is why the American
Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for
the first six months. But many of us moms struggle with
breastfeeding and getting support during those first few
weeks of birth is crucial to achieving our breastfeeding
goals.
Many research studies have proven that mother-to-mother
support is the best resource for new moms, making a huge
difference in the length of time a mom breastfeeds. Rumina
is giving women who are impassioned about breastfeeding a
way to help other woman struggling to meet their
breastfeeding goals.
With every purchase of a Hands-Free Pump&Nurse Tank,
Rumina will donate a portion of our revenue to WIC Peer
Counselor Programs. Rumina is extremely proud to support the
Peer Counselors. We founded Rumina with RuminaMoms in mind
and we thank you for helping to celebrate the nourishing
powers of moms!!
For an in-depth look at peer counseling, please read this
great article by a WIC breastfeeding peer counselor:
The High Life of a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
What is WIC?
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants and Children is a program for healthcare and
nutrition of low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding women,
and infants and children under the age of five.
Why does Rumina support the WIC Peer Counseling Programs?
Unfortunately, many women do not have the resources and
support to continue breastfeeding beyond the first few days
after birth. As the US Surgeon General, Regina Benjamin,
explains in her Call to Action, breastfeeding is a national
public health priority. If we all support our children
getting off to the healthiest start in life, our children
and our country would benefit greatly from lower healthcare
costs, less childhood obesity, and a more productive
workforce, just to name a few of the many benefits. With
federal and state budget cuts, Rumina wants to support this
vulnerable population where we are most impassioned,
breastfeeding.
What is a Peer Counselor?
A Breastfeeding Peer
Counselor is a para-professional support person with a
mission to improve breastfeeding initiation and duration
rates, to reduce infant mortality, to improve cognitive
abilities and overall long term health benefits of infants
and children, and to reduce the incidence of obesity in
childhood and later life.
What is the program's focus?
The program provides
specialized breastfeeding education, encouragement and
support to pregnant and breastfeeding women and their
infants. Peer Counselors do home visits, telephone
consultations, hospital visits, and lead support groups.
Peer Counselors also assist participants with breast pump
use and provide outreach to hospitals and physicians on
breastfeeding services offered. |
