From the Beaufort County Health Department

 

Beaufort County Board of Health signed a proclamation which officially declared Aug. 1-7 as World Breastfeeding Week for Beaufort County.

This year’s World Breastfeeding Week theme Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal for Life! acknowledges that mothers and babies can enjoy a lifetime of benefits from breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding is one of the most important decisions a family can make. Research shows that babies who receive only breast milk for the first six months of life are less likely to develop a wide range of chronic and acute diseases, including ear infections, diarrheal diseases, asthma, obesity and respiratory illnesses. Mothers also benefit from breastfeeding with a decreased risk for breast and ovarian cancers.

Breastfeeding is the ultimate goal. To achieve the goal it takes a team. That team includes helpers and healthcare professionals, as well as family and friends. Together, the breastfeeding team provides information to boost confidence, protect mothers against critics, give support, and lend a hand to help. Team members with special skills and knowledge about breastfeeding, such as a peer counselor or an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), are especially helpful. An IBCLC is often like a head coach, providing unique expertise and guidance for a mother.

When mothers and babies are able to reach their breastfeeding goals, they also contribute to the community’s health. “Breastfeeding provides appropriate nutrition for infant growth, sets the stage for school-readiness, and contributes to a cleaner environment with less waste. Together, all of these small contributions add up for improved global health,” said Decalie Brown, President of the International Lactation Consultant Association.

“Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal for Life!” Also highlights the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), an international framework for reducing poverty and providing people with lives of dignity in every nation by 2015. The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action coordinates World Breastfeeding Week and has identified how breastfeeding contributes to each of the MDGs. For further details, visit www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org or contact your local health department at 252-946-1902 for more information.