Aug. 1-7 is recognized every year as World Breastfeeding Week to bring public awareness to breastfeeding. The theme this year is: Step Up For Breastfeeding, Educate and Support. Have you supported a breastfeeding family?
In order to be supportive of breastfeeding we need to know why it's important. Having good, factual information is crucial when wanting to encourage and provide support. Breastfeeding is the healthiest option for mom and baby. Children who receive breast milk get sick less, have less digestive issues, fewer allergies, less eczema and lower rates of SIDS than babies that who are fed infant formula. Breast milk changes to meet baby's specific nutritional needs as they grow. There are nutrients and hormones in breast milk that cannot be found or duplicated anywhere else in the world. Mom's benefits are just as amazing! They heal faster after delivery, lose pregnancy weight quicker, report lower rates of postpartum depression and decrease their risk of certain diseases the longer they breastfeed.
Not only does breastfeeding provide health benefits for mom and baby, it's also beneficial to a family's finances, the environment and employers of breastfeeding mothers. Exclusively breastfeeding instead of formula feeding for one year can save families $900-$2,900 (and possibly more due to price increases from recent shortages). When babies are fed directly from the breast, there's less waste from product packaging or energy wasted. Employers also benefit when their employees are breastfeeding, since breastfed babies are sick less which leads to employees having better attendance. Is there anyone or anything that breastfeeding doesn't benefit?
Those facts are great, but how can you be helpful to those in your life and community that breastfeed? There are many ways that family, friends, dads and colleagues can support a breastfeeding mother. Continuously encouraging mom with kind words and love is a great start. If the person breastfeeding is a friend or relative, there are many ways to be supportive to them. When visiting mom and baby, make sure it's a good time and she is comfortable having others in the home. Bring a meal and offer to take care of things while mom focuses on baby. Dads can help by caring for baby's needs such as bath time or diaper changes, making sure mom has refreshments or a snack and is comfortable while nursing.
Employers and colleagues of breastfeeding moms can offer support as well. Being mindful of their need to pump when returning to work, having written policies that protect the pumping employee, allowing reasonable time to pump in a comfortable space are ways to help parents reach their breastfeeding goals. A workplace can even be recognized by the state of Missouri as a Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite for being supportive of their moms in these ways. When baby's caregivers or daycares are educated about breastfeeding, it supports the family as well. When childcare providers feed breastfed infants on demand instead of a schedule, educate employees on handling breast milk, offer parents a place to feed baby during care hours and offer a storage place for expressed milk, families are able to more easily succeed at reaching their breastfeeding goals. The state of Missouri also recognizes childcare facilities that are breastfeeding friendly in these ways.
Another way to support a breastfeeding mom is to know where or how to get her help if things aren't going well or having trouble meeting her goals. Breastfeeding is natural and meant for babies, but that doesn't mean it is perfect every single time -- issues can come up. A mom may struggle with things like a poor latch, low milk supply, having a NICU baby or many other things that interfere with her breastfeeding journey. In Jefferson City, there are multiple resources for the breastfeeding family that are part of the Cole County Breastfeeding Coalition. The Cole County Health Department, Capital Region Hospital, SSM St. Mary's Hospital, Pregnancy Help Center, Whaley's Mommy & Me, and Covenant Chiropractic & Wellness are some of the places in town that offer education and support.
They have breastfeeding education classes, support groups or access to International Board Certified Lactation Consultants with any breastfeeding questions or concerns.
Help is out there if mom needs it! These are amazing resources and right here locally. There's also great help if you're looking for information to share online. Seeing IBCLC in the author's credentials should be a comfort the information is from an expert source.
The Cole County Breastfeeding Coalition will be kicking off World Breastfeeding Week at the Jefferson City Jaycees 72nd Annual Cole County Fair by providing a breastfeeding area and diaper changing station for families. Members of the coalition will be available to provide breastfeeding education and support, to answer questions and concerns for all members of the community. And there will be giveaways and a chance to win prizes!
Tressie Roberson has been a breastfeeding peer counselor and health professional assistant for the Cole County WIC Program for almost five years. She is a member of the Missouri Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Taskforce, Cole County Breastfeeding Coalition and has presented for the National WIC Association.
Print Headline: For Your Health: Step up for breastfeeding
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