New London — A red tent at the Field of Greens Farmers Market at Williams Park is helping prevent chronic disease, thanks to a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The "Nurturing Station," as the tent is named, provides a safe space for mothers to breastfeed their babies at the market.

Cynthia Fortner, the community health liaison for the Thames Valley Council for Community Action, said there's growing evidence showing the health benefits of nursing.

"The most recent data nationwide was that if 90 percent of families breastfed for the recommended six months, ... our country would save $13 billion," she said.

Children who are breastfed are less likely to have ear infections, develop diabetes or become obese, and fewer doctor visits saves money for families.

The program is part of a $180,000 grant that was awarded to the TVCCA in February.

Community health coordinator Jessica Seyfried said the grant was awarded to 14 other organizations in the country to help reduce chronic disease in families.

When TVCCA conducted a study to see what health matters the community needs support with, breastfeeding was one of three items identified, along with access to healthy food and mental health care.

Seyfried got the idea for the station after seeing a similar setup in a news article from upstate New York and wanted to replicate it in New London.

The first station was two chairs under a shady tree with a homemade sign, but group decided it needed a tent to fit in with the rest of the market.

Local businesses donated a tent, chairs and a promotional banner, and the Nurturing Station made its debut last week at the market, with two mothers utilizing the tent.

The tent also has a changing mat and brochures about breastfeeding resources.

"We're trying to help with the support piece," Fortner said, adding that most women stop breastfeeding within the first six weeks. "Let's help women access the resources they need to get their questions answered, and let's make sure we're giving them a place to breastfeed in public if they so need."

Fortner said the market in particular is a good place to have a station because it is a positive, healthy place to bring kids.

The station also will be at the Fall Food Stroll in October, and it is available to any organization in the area that wants to use it for events.

Fortner said she also will start pushing for support for more certified lactation consultants in the state and talking to business owners about ways they can be breastfeeding-friendly for mothers returning to work or patrons who are breastfeeding.

"Let's normalize it," she said. "It really is best for the baby."

a.hutchinson@theday.com