CHD Early Intervention (EI) Program Supervisor Cindy Napoli was invited to The Madrina Project resource fair for breastfeeding mothers on August 3. The event, held at the O’Dell Women’s Center in Springfield, celebrated the start of World Breastfeeding Week.

Pictured are Napoli and several families who receive services from our EI team.

The Madrina Project operates through the Women of Color Health Equity Collective to provide essential resources and community support for local families. EI works closely with The Madrina Project Program Coordinator Moryn Mendoza, who put the event together. “We maintain an excellent team relationship in identifying babies who need more work/therapy or support for a successful feeding relationship,” said Napoli.

As an occupational therapist/certified lactation counselor (CLC), Napoli enjoys watching families reach their goals in breastfeeding or in infant feeding in general. “So often feeding is a dance—something that at times is difficult to coordinate, and the partners need to be in sync with each other,” she said. “Part of my role in infant feeding and a CLC is to figure out the puzzle pieces and how to help put that puzzle back together in good alignment. Sometimes the problem may be a positional or body tension with the baby, and sometimes it’s a milk supply issue for the mom due to the baby’s inefficient suck.”

Napoli said that that mother and baby working as a team together helps to improve baby’s oral motor function and build mom’s confidence. “We want parents to enjoy this lifelong process of responsive feeding without fear of failure or rejection,” she said. “I’m blessed to have a program director, Erinne Gorneault, who values the breastfeeding relationship as well. We have a team of PTs and OTs who specialize in infant feeding and motor development. Feeding should not be stressful at any age. We are here to help.”