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Skagit County proclaims August 2025 Breastfeeding Month; public‑health partners highlight local services
Summary
The Skagit County Board of Commissioners proclaimed August 2025 as Breastfeeding Month after a presentation from local lactation partners. Public Health, WIC and hospital representatives described a network of peer counselors, lactation pods and newborn outreach that they say supports families countywide.
The Skagit County Board of Commissioners unanimously proclaimed August 2025 as Breastfeeding Month on July 28 following a presentation from the Skagit Lactation Coalition and public‑health partners.
Jennifer Sathwalton, prevention and community health division manager at Skagit County Public Health, introduced the presentation and thanked coalition members for local work supporting lactation. Terry Schilling, chair of the Skagit Lactation Coalition and a lactation consultant, described coalition activities that include peer support, hospital coordination and newborn resource bags distributed to families.
Valeria Chilcote, a breastfeeding peer counselor with WIC at Mount Vernon, summarized public‑health benefits of human milk and barriers parents face, including lack of prenatal education, early formula introduction in hospitals and workplace constraints. She said that Washington state’s breastfeeding initiation rates are high but exclusive breastfeeding at six months remains lower.
A mother who identified herself as Amanda described personal struggles after a NICU separation and difficulties establishing breastfeeding with her first baby; she said subsequent support from WIC and hospital lactation staff helped her reach her breastfeeding goals with later children.
Skagit Valley and Island hospitals were cited as scoring well on the CDC’s mPINC survey (maternal practices in infant nutrition and care). Speakers also noted local services such as lactation pods (a private space for pumping), WIC peer counselors, donated human‑milk programs for premature infants and community breastfeeding education.
Commissioner action and context The board moved and seconded the proclamation and voted unanimously in favor. The proclamation notes Skagit County welcomes nearly 1,500 new babies each year and calls for continued collaboration to ensure families can access pregnancy and postpartum supports.
The presentations highlighted an array of county supports — WIC peer counselors, hospital lactation consultants, newborn outreach bags, lactation pods at the courthouse, and community classes — that partners said help families meet breastfeeding goals.
