Breastfeeding Station Opens in Manassas Park City Hall

New breastfeeding stations have opened in several locations within the Prince William Health District, the public agency announced this month

One of the new breastfeeding rooms is inside the Department of Social Services office in Manassas Park City Hall.

The new room in city was mentioned in July when Manassas Park Director of Social Services Addie Whitaker told the Manassas Park Governing Body that a breastfeeding room was in the cards for the building.

The room is open to city employees and residents as well as fathers of nursing babies, Whitaker said in an earlier report. 

A new breastfeeding station in the Manassas Park Community Center is in development, Prince William Health District officials said.

There are stations open in other areas of Manassas and Prince William County.

Those locations are:

·  Prince William Health District Clinics in Manassas and Woodbridge

·  Greater Prince William Community Health Center

·  Manassas City Hall

·  Manassas Park, Department of Social Services

·  Manassas Park Community Center (under development)

·  Prince William County Department of Social Services in the Sudley NorthGovernment Center

The rooms are funded by the Obesity Prevention Through Healthy Communities grant. 

Health guidelines and studies show that breastfeeding is highly beneficial for babies, but nursing outside the home remains a challenge for some women. 

“The program isn’t just about comfort and privacy, but also protecting the health of the baby.” Dr. Alison Ansher, health director for the Prince William Health District said in this month. 

“Breastfed babies have a lower rate of many health problems such as ear infections, asthma, childhood obesity, diabetes, infections in premature babies, and even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). By providing these breastfeeding rooms, we hope to encourage more women to breastfeed their babies, to help the babies grow into healthy children.”