Supporting New Moms Through Pregnancy and Breastfeeding During the Pandemic

Host Leah Lemm explores how Indian Country in MN is responding
and adapting to the current pandemic health crisis.


 


On this show, Host Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe)
continues her look at how parents of very young children and
specifically how new moms are facing the challenges brought on by
the COVID-19 pandemic  


 


Leah’s guest today is Shashana Craft (White Earth Nation) who
works for Headway Emotional Health as a Family Spirit Infant
Parent Support Specialist and is also the founder of the
Minneapolis Indigenous Breastfeeding Support Circle.  Leah
and Shashana talk about breastfeeding, the stresses parents of
little ones are facing right now during the pandemic, and how to
build strong support. Shashana shares how learning traditional
practices can be especially during these times.


 


We also hear from Dr. Anne Eglash, with the Department of Family
Medicine and Community Health at the University of Wisconsin,
about how breastfeeding helps a baby’s immune system and may
offer extra protection if they become ill with COVID-19.


 


Additional resources for new moms and moms-to-be: 


Pregnancy and Post-Partum Support Minnesota: 612-787-7776.


Strong Hearts Native Helpline: 1-844-7-NATIVE or 1-844-762-8483.


Look for the Minneapolis Indigenous Breastfeeding Support Circle
on Facebook.