Breastfest 2007 comes to Moses Lake Friday

MOSES LAKE — The 2007 annual breastfeeding celebration, Breastfest, returns to Moses Lake Civic Center Park Friday.

The event is in celebration of World Breastfeeding Week.

"It's just our way of having a fun time celebrating breastfeeding," said Moses Lake Breastfeeding Coalition member Danette Preston.

The coalition and Moses Lake and Quincy Community Health Centers' Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program are putting on the event, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Local organizations are providing educational booths, and free car-seat checks and car-seat raffles are offered, as well as children's activities, speakers, music and other entertainment.

"I do believe it's the biggest (celebration) in the state of Washington," Preston said.

Moses Lake Community Health Center Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program Certifier Lydia DeLeon said so far, 28 booths signed up.

Organizations with booths include Moses Lake Clinic, the Moses Lake Cancer Foundation, New Hope Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services, Moses Lake Sports and Physical Therapy and Family Planning Services of Grant County.

Speakers at the event are focusing on breastfeeding awareness, DeLeon said.

"(Breast milk) is much easier to digest for the babies," said Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program Director Paige Waters. "The breast milk changes as the baby grows, so it always meets the baby's needs as the baby's growing."

Breastfed babies generally have less ear infections and asthma problems, Waters noted.

The Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program helps educate pregnant women about breastfeeding and supports them with breastfeeding challenges.

"We want to give the moms the information that they need and the support that they need so they can continue (breastfeeding)," Waters said.

For more information about the event, call the Moses Lake Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program at 509-766-9815.