By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

QUINTER — On Tuesday, the Gove County Medical Center in Quinter officially opened its new lactation clinic to a crowd of about 50 people, including breastfeeding advocates from the Northwest Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition.

“The lactation clinic will provide education and support for infants and breastfeeding mothers including nutritional information, physical and emotional support and assistance with challenges of breastfeeding,” said Carolyn Nelson, grant writer, in a release after the event.

“Coleen Tummons, CEO, performed the ribbon cutting with the support of Dr. Shelly Gruenbacher, Annie Staats, R.N., DON, and the three lactation consultants, Jamie Mense, R.N., IBCLC, Stephanie Mesch, R.N., CLC, and Wendy Schmidt, R.N., CLC,” she said.

The event also featured a history of breastfeeding during the last few decades.

“Karen Huffman and Patrice Ostmeyer, former La Leche League leaders, shared how the status of breastfeeding has changed dramatically from the 1960s when it had negative connotations to the positive status it enjoys today. The change of status is in large part due to the vision and efforts of these women and others,” Nelson said.

The BESTT – Breastfeeding Essentials Support Thriving Together – Lactation Clinic will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Tuesday excluding holidays.