August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month
Communities Need to Work Together to Provide Support for
Breastfeeding Mothers
August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month in Ohio and Aug. 1-7
is World Breastfeeding Week (WBW). Research suggests that
breastfeeding is a key modifiable factor for disease for
both mothers and infants.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that
Ohio’s 2018 breastfeeding initiation rate of 81.9 percent
ranks 36th in the nation. For this year’s
Breastfeeding Awareness Month, Ohio will adopt the theme: Empower
Families, Support Breastfeeding. This theme focuses on
the importance of supporting all members of a breastfeeding
family as well as working to advocate for breastfeeding
supportive environments in and around local communities.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World
Health Organization (WHO) recommend exclusive breastfeeding
for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding
with the addition of appropriate solid food for the first
year and beyond.
“In light of the monetary and lifesaving benefits of
breastfeeding, all elements of the community, must cooperate
and support breastfeeding.” said Eric Zgodzinski,
Toledo-Lucas County Health Commissioner. “Ultimately, our
whole society benefits from having healthier mothers, babies
and children when breastfeeding is promoted, protected and
supported.”
One of the most important things businesses and the
community can do is to allow mothers to feel comfortable
nursing in public. Hungry babies need to eat and Ohio law (Section
3781.55 of the Ohio Revised Code) allows breastfeeding
in public. Businesses can show their support by placing the
“Breastfeeding Welcome Here” universal sign for
breastfeeding in their windows and educate their staffs on
the acceptance of breastfeeding in their establishments.
They can also encourage their employees and provide a
private space (other than a bathroom) to pump. This will
increase employee retention and reduce medical costs.
Hospitals can adopt the Ten Steps to Successful
Breastfeeding as an indication that they are dedicated
to supporting new mothers who choose to breastfeed. By
eliminating formula gifts to breastfeeding mothers, they
send the message that they believe mothers can make enough
milk to breastfeed exclusively.
Educational institutions can support breastfeeding by
presenting age appropriate education on the anatomy and
physiology of the human body. Local county fairs can teach
young children about how other mammals feed their young with
milk that is made just for them. Child care providers and
libraries can also stock children’s books that show
breastfeeding as a normal part of family life.
Social media can also provide support to breastfeeding
mothers through Facebook and Twitter. Breastfeeding mothers
can reach out through groups and chat rooms and get the
support they need to feel normal in a formula feeding
culture.
Breastfeeding is a personal choice, but communities play a
vital role in informing and supporting a mother’s decision
to breastfeed her baby. Returning our communities back into
a breastfeeding supportive culture will take efforts by
family, friends, employers, educational institutions,
hospitals and businesses.
For more information about breastfeeding in Lucas County please call the Help Me Grow
Helpline at 1-800-755-GROW or the Lucas County WIC
Breastfeeding Support Program at 419-213-2124.
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