As Saint Lucia marks its annual Breastfeeding Awareness Month, a community-focused initiative in the southern town of Vieux Fort is bringing critical guidance and encouragement to new and expectant mothers navigating early parenthood. The Vieux Fort Wellness Centre organized a targeted hands-on workshop designed to address the common knowledge gaps and anxieties that often leave first-time mothers feeling unprepared to breastfeed their infants. Drawing attendees from across Vieux Fort and surrounding neighboring communities, the event forms part of a broader, sustained public health push to normalize breastfeeding and equip mothers with the tools they need to succeed from the very start of their parenting journey.
Junette Joseph, a community health nurse attached to the Vieux Fort Wellness Centre, outlined the core mission of the gathering. “The aim of the workshop is to provide information and also support for expectant mothers to enable them to initiate and maintain breastfeeding successfully, knowing all the wonderful benefits of breastfeeding,” Joseph explained. Beyond sharing evidence-based information about the wide-ranging health benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers, the workshop prioritized practical, skill-based learning that addresses the most common early challenges new mothers face.
Attendees had the opportunity to practice proper infant positioning and latching techniques—two core skills that often present steep learning curves for women breastfeeding for the first time. In addition to hands-on practice, participants took home customized educational materials to reference after the workshop, and enjoyed open discussion space to ask specific questions about their individual circumstances. The session also created space to debunk widespread common misconceptions about breastfeeding that often discourage women from starting or continuing to breastfeed their children. Organizers report that the event left participating mothers feeling more confident and supported in their upcoming or current breastfeeding journeys, aligning with the national goals of Breastfeeding Awareness Month to improve maternal and infant health outcomes across Saint Lucia.