Harvey County Health Department
The Harvey County Health Department and Harvey County Breastfeeding Coalition are inviting mothers to share how they fed their babies – and if extra support would have helped.
The survey seeks to identify if feeding went as planned or nothing like expected. It welcomes all feeding experiences, such as breastfeeding, pumping, donor milk, formula or any mix. The anonymous online survey can be completed at tinyurl.com/harvey-infant-feeding.
The survey is open to Harvey County mothers with a child under 2 years old.
“The goal of this survey is to shape our next steps for how we can continue to better support young families and expecting parents,” said HCBC Chair Mallorie Coffman.
Feeding affects both the mother and child’s health now and later. However, feeding can bring anxiety. A mother who feels supported – however she feeds her baby – is better able to meet the benchmarks keeping babies healthy, such as safe sleep, well-baby visits and knowing who to call.
Breastfeeding is linked to lower infant mortality. Kansas Vital Statistics’ 2024 data shows 93.5% of Harvey County mothers started breastfeeding. However, there is little information about the duration of breastfeeding. The current data available doesn’t reveal whether a mother received support, or if she stopped because she wanted to.
Local support may be able to assist in some areas, such as having access to a pump or a plan when returning to work or school. The survey asks what other support, if any, moms still need.
“A family’s breastfeeding choices are shaped in part by their personal experiences and individual needs, but it is also the responsibility of the community that surrounds and support the family to make their choices a possibility,” Coffman said. “That community includes employers, healthcare personnel, childcare providers, public spaces and more, and they can either be a bolster or a barrier to these choices.”
The survey is open through March.