Free community wellness fair planned for Indy mothers

(MIRROR INDY) — MelaMama Maternal Wellness Inc. and the Indiana Breastfeeding Coalition are hosting a community resource fair on Saturday, Aug. 23.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., participants can learn about breastfeeding, postpartum resources and car seat safety. The free event at OrthoIndy Foundation YMCA, 5315 Lafayette Road, will also include a raffle for baby products, lunch, outdoor games, a DJ and face painting.

The nonprofit organizations are celebrating Black Breastfeeding Week, a national event raising awareness about the disparities in breastfeeding rates among Black mothers. 

About 75% of Black mothers in Indiana reported breastfeeding their babies, per a 2022 report from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. That’s about a 15% increase from a decade ago, WIC found, but Black women still have lower rates compared to Hispanic, Asian and white mothers.

MelaMama Maternal Wellness provides lactation services, which are free to book online for mothers who have Medicaid or are uninsured. 

Reserve a spot at the community resource fair on Eventbrite.

Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations. 

Mirror Indy reporter Mary Claire Molloy covers health. Reach her at 317-721-7648 or email maryclaire.molloy@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X @mcmolloy7.

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