For Immediate Release

January 30, 2004

Mercy Memorial’s Healthy Start Program

Celebrates 10 Years of Service

Ardmore — February 1, 2004, marks the tenth anniversary of Mercy Memorial’s Healthy Start program. Healthy Start, a breastfeeding and education program that provides information and support for new mothers during pregnancy, labor, delivery and the early days of parenthood, is the only one of its kind available for new mothers from Norman, Oklahoma to Denton, Texas.

When Crystal Stearns, RNC, IBCLC and coordinator of Healthy Start, first proposed the idea to hospital administration in 1993, she had no idea that Healthy Start would grow to be such an invaluable resource to the mothers of this community and surrounding areas.

“It has made an important difference in a lot of mothers’ lives,” said Stearns. “Breastfeeding is the most natural and nutritional way to encourage a baby’s development but believe it or not, it is a skill that both mother and baby sometimes need a little help to learn.”

Of some 890 births each year at Mercy Memorial, 64 percent of new moms choose to breastfeed their babies—a number that has gone up about 12 percent since the program started. “Doctors are utilizing our services more and more and in general, I think society is more accepting of the breastfeeding mom,” said Stearns.

Stearns and co-workers Bonnie Hollingsworth, RNC, IBCLC and Zann Shelton, RN, IBCLC, are all Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultants. Stearns also recently received her master’s in counseling from East Central University.

“We’ve seen a lot of changes over the last 10 years,” said Hollingsworth. “Not only do we consult with women from all over the area, but we also consult outside of Oklahoma and amazingly even out of the country.” A long time resident of Ardmore recently moved to Russia and continues to seek guidance and information from her Mercy Memorial Healthy Start consultants.

For more information about the Healthy Start program, contact Crystal Stearns at 220-6432, or The Birthplace at Mercy Memorial, 220-6524.

Mercy Memorial Health Center is a member of Mercy Health System of Oklahoma and the Sisters of Mercy Health System-St. Louis.

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