The Osage Nation envisions a strong, culturally-sensitive healthcare system that will transform the health of the communities we serve and provide Native American families with healthcare they can rely on. All tribes are welcome.
Direct services are available to all eligible Native Americans and referred care is allowable to those residing within the Osage Nation Reservation, Kay, Grant, Noble, Payne and Garfield Counties.
The Wahzhazhe Health Center is dedicated to promoting a culture of continuous Quality and Performance Improvement. It is the goal of the Wahzhazhe Health Center to always provide optimal care and services to the patients we proudly serve.
WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK | Osage Nation’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program will celebrate World Breastfeeding Week with a bingo game on Tuesday, August 4, at 6 p.m., at the Osage County Fairgrounds in the AG Building. The event is family-friendly and open to all community members. For more information, contact Kinsey Gillum at (918) 440-6189 or email kinsey.gillum@osagenation-nsn.gov.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
National Breastfeeding Month: Celebrating the Power of BreastfeedingEvery August, we recognize National Breastfeeding Month, a time to celebrate the remarkable benefits of breastfeeding for babies, mothers, families, and communities. Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to promote lifelong health, providing ideal nutrition while strengthening the bond between parent and child. It also offers significant health benefits for mothers and helps build healthier communities by reducing illness and improving long-term wellness.Whether you're an expecting parent, currently breastfeeding, or supporting someone on their breastfeeding journey, learning about the science behind breast milk can help you better understand why it is often called nature's perfect first food.Amazing Breastfeeding Facts1. Breast milk is a living substance.Breast milk contains living cells, antibodies, enzymes, hormones, beneficial bacteria, and other bioactive components that help support a baby's growth and immune system in ways that cannot be replicated by formula.2. Your baby's saliva can help "communicate" with your body.Research suggests that during breastfeeding, a small amount of a baby's saliva may flow back into the nipple, allowing the mother's immune system to respond by adjusting the antibodies and immune factors in her milk to better meet the baby's needs.3. Breast milk changes to meet your baby's needs.Breast milk isn't the same every day or even throughout a single feeding. It changes based on your baby's age, nutritional needs, hydration status, and stage of development.4. If your baby gets sick, your milk changes too.When a breastfeeding baby becomes ill, breast milk often contains increased levels of protective immune cells and antibodies that help the baby's body fight infection.5. Colostrum is known as "liquid gold."The first milk produced after birth is packed with antibodies, nutrients, and immune cells that help protect newborns while supporting healthy gut development.6. Breastfeeding supports healthy brain development.Breast milk contains important fatty acids, including DHA, that contribute to healthy brain and nervous system development.7. Breastfeeding helps protect mothers against breast cancer.Research shows that women who breastfeed have a lower lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, especially with longer durations of breastfeeding.8. Breastfeeding also lowers the risk of ovarian cancer.Breastfeeding has been associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer later in life.9. Mothers who breastfeed may reduce their risk of chronic diseases. Breastfeeding has been linked to lower risks of Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.10. Breastfeeding helps the body recover after childbirth.Nursing stimulates the release of oxytocin, a hormone that helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size and reduces postpartum bleeding.11. Breast milk helps build a healthy gut microbiome.Breast milk nourishes beneficial bacteria in a baby's digestive system, supporting digestion, immune function, and long-term health.12. Breast milk naturally helps keep babies hydrated.During hot weather, breast milk adjusts its composition to provide more water, helping babies stay hydrated without needing additional water.13. Nighttime breast milk may help babies sleep.Breast milk produced at night contains higher levels of melatonin, which may help babies develop healthy sleep patterns.14. Breastfed babies experience fewer illnesses.Breastfeeding helps lower the risk of ear infections, respiratory illnesses, stomach viruses, and diarrhea while supporting a stronger immune system.15. Breastfeeding benefits the environment.Breast milk requires no manufacturing, packaging, transportation, or waste, making it one of the most environmentally sustainable ways to feed a baby.16. Skin-to-skin contact offers lifelong benefits.Breastfeeding encourages skin-to-skin contact, which helps regulate a baby's heart rate, breathing, temperature, and blood sugar while strengthening emotional bonding.17. Every drop of breast milk matters.Even when breastfeeding is not exclusive, any amount of breast milk provides important nutritional and immune benefits that support a baby's health.Breastfeeding is a personal journey, and every family's experience is unique. The Osage Nation Health System supports parents by providing education, encouragement, and resources to help families make informed decisions about infant feeding. During National Breastfeeding Month, we celebrate every parent who is working to give their child the healthiest possible start in life.Sources1. World Health Organization (WHO), Infant and Young Child Feeding; American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk2. Hassiotou F, et al. Breastmilk is a Dynamic, Living Tissue. Clinical & Translational Immunology (2013); La Leche League International3. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP); World Health Organization (WHO)4. Hassiotou F, et al. Clinical & Translational Immunology (2013); La Leche League International5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); World Health Organization (WHO)6. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk7. American Cancer Society; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)8. National Cancer Institute; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); American Diabetes Association10. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Breastfeeding Your Baby11. National Institutes of Health (NIH); World Health Organization (WHO)12. World Health Organization (WHO), Infant and Young Child Feeding13. Cubero J, et al. The Circadian Rhythm of Human Milk Components. Nutritional Neuroscience (2009)14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)15. UNICEF, Breastfeeding and the Environment16. World Health Organization (WHO); UNICEF, Early Essential Newborn Care17. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
