World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated around the world each year during the first week of August to promote breastfeeding and highlight its importance to the health of mothers and babies.
This year’s theme is “Breastfeeding: A Key to Sustainable Development.” USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) joins the celebration as WIC promotes breastfeeding all year long as the optimal choice for moms who are medically able. The World Breastfeeding Week logo is shown at right.
According to Carol Leonard, lactation consultant with the UM Shore Regional Health Birthing Center, breastfeeding has increased about 10% in the last 10 years. Healthy People 2020 goals for breastfeeding are to increase initiation of breastfeeding to 81.9% (Dept. of Health and Human Services, 2016). The national average is currently 80%, and Maryland was 77% in 2013.
“Attitudes towards breastfeeding are becoming more positive,” says Leonard .”Family members, mothers, sisters, and the baby’s fathers, show their support by encouraging mothers to breastfeed. A common misconception is that there is no milk available when the baby is born. In fact, every new mother has colostrum, which is the perfect food for human babies. It comes in small amounts and is low in fat, and high in protein, carbohydrates, and antibodies, and is easy to digest. A newborn’s stomach only holds about one teaspoon, which is just about the amount of colostrum a baby obtains at a feeding for the first few days. Another misconception is that a breastfeeding mother has to watch what she eats. Breastfeeding mothers should eat a variety of healthy foods. Breastmilk is flavored by the foods the mother eats, so breastfed babies are exposed to different tastes and may be less likely to be picky eaters.”
The Birthing Centersupports breastfeeding in a variety of ways. Birthing Center nurses are specially trained in the benefits and techniques of lactation, and certified lactation consultants are also available for mothers who experience breastfeeding difficulties during their hospital stay. For those who experience difficulties after leaving the hospital, the Birthing Center provides breastfeeding classes and also private consultations (in person and over the telephone). Finally, the Breastfeeding Support Group welcomes expectant mothers as well as new mothers, and provides excellent guidance to help moms breastfeed successfully, benefiting their own health as well as their babies’. The group meets twice each month in the 5th floor meeting room of UM Shore Medical Center at Easton.
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