Friday, July 29, 2016

World Breastfeeding Week 2016



World Breastfeeding Week is a global breastfeeding promotion campaign recognized throughout the world.  It is celebrated each year during the first week of August with many organizations choosing to celebrate breastfeeding throughout the entire month. 

It’s been said that “Making the decision to have a child is momentous,” and it is a journey that lasts a lifetime.  As in any journey, it is the first step that counts.   Breastfeeding lays the foundation for good health for all children in both the short and long term, and also benefits mothers.  It is well known that human milk provides the ideal balance of nutrients for an infant's growth and development; reduces the risk of infectious and chronic disease; protects mothers' and infants' health; and may reduce the risk of childhood obesity.

Breastfeeding is also good for our planet.  Breast milk is a “natural, renewable food” that is environmentally safe and produced and delivered to the “consumer” without pollution, packaging or waste.  No electricity is needed to produce breast milk and it (technically) requires no fuel for transport.

More importantly, the medical journal the Lancet, recently confirmed that breastfeeding could save 823,000 child lives and add $302 billion to the global economy annually.  Unfortunately, global breastfeeding rates have remained stagnant for the past 2 decades.  Less than 40% of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed.  In the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control, although most mothers hope to breastfeed, and 79% of babies start out being breastfed, only 19% are exclusively breastfed 6 months later. 

The issue is that many women and their families face barriers to breastfeeding.  They may receive inaccurate information from health providers, lack breastfeeding support, have no access to breastfeeding counseling or help, face aggressive marketing of formula or other breast milk substitutes, or may be forced or feel forced to return to work soon after giving birth.  These barriers alone make it exceedingly difficult for women to breastfeed exclusively for even 6 months.  The success rate among mothers who want to breastfeed can be greatly improved through active support from their families, friends, communities, clinicians, health care leaders, employers, and policymakers.

The Livingston County Health Center joins professional health organizations and breastfeeding advocates worldwide in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week the first week of August of each year to collaboratively raise awareness of the numerous benefits of breastfeeding.   Join us on August 6th at 9:30 a.m. for the Global Big Latch On at the Farmer’s Market.  This Latch-On breastfeeding promotion takes place at a registered locations around the world, where women gather together to breastfeed and offer peer support to each other to “Normalize Nursing in Public.”  Their friends, family and community join this celebration to promote and support breastfeeding.   Then on August 9th from 5-7 p.m. the Livingston County Health Center is sponsoring a “Baby Fair” for breastfeeding moms and “to-be” moms planning to breastfeed.  There will be car seat checks provided by the Hi-Way patrol, giveaways, door prizes, snacks and booths.


We know that one of the most highly effective preventive measures a mother can take to protect the health of her infant is to breastfeed. The Livingston County Health Center actively supports breastfeeding moms and families by offering free expert advice to help you get the knowledge, help and encouragement you may need. Breastfeeding:   Any Time, Anywhere, Any Mom.  Strengthening individual, family and community support for breastfeeding.  Call 646-5506 for more information or visit our website at www.livcohealthcenter.com

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