The Breastfeeding Center and Family Boutique at Evergreen Hospital Medical Center will be celebrating World Breastfeeding Week Aug. 2-6 with an open house. Tea and cookies will be available 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. (The Boutique is also open Saturdays.)

In 1992 Evergreen was the first hospital in the United States to be designated Baby Friendly by UNICEF and the World Health Organization. According to the Baby Friendly Web site (www.babyfriendlyusa.org/) more than one million infants worldwide die every year because they are not breastfed or are given other foods too early. Millions more live in poor health, contract preventable diseases, and battle malnutrition. Although the magnitude of this death and disease is far greater in the developing world, thousands of infants in the United States suffer the ill effects suboptimal feeding practices. A decreased risk of diarrhea, respiratory and ear infections, and allergic skin disorders are among the many benefits of breastfeeding to infants in the industrialized world.

Evergreen begins teaching women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding when they’re pregnant. Trained staff members show mothers how to breastfeed within one hour of birth and teach them how to maintain lactation even if they’re separated from their infants. Newborn infants are given no food or drink other than breast milk unless medically indicated. The hospital organizes breastfeeding support groups at no charge.

Evergreen started The Baby & Family Boutique in 2003 to help parents of newborns find recommended products such as breast pumps, milk storage materials, nursing bras and tank tops and other baby accessories. Lactation consultants are available at the Boutique to help mother and baby with any nursing problems.

The boutique is open to the public, not just families who have given birth at Evergreen. It is located at 12040 NE 128th St., Kirkland in Suite 320 of the Coral Building. The telephone number is 425-899-3603. Parking is always free at Evergreen.