In recognition of World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) reminds everyone that when it comes to infant nutrition, breast milk is best. According to a study published in the American Academy of Pediatrics journal, the lives of more than 900 babies could be saved each year, along with an estimated cost savings of $13 billion per year, if U.S. women exclusively breastfed their babies for the first six months of life. The theme this year, Breastfeeding: A Vital Emergency Response, Are you ready? reinforces the vital role that breastfeeding plays in emergency response worldwide. Objectives of World Breastfeeding Week 2010 are:
- Draw attention to the role of the Ten Steps in improving breastfeeding rates
- Renew action by health systems, health care providers and communities to make breastfeeding the easy choice for women.
- Inform people everywhere of the risks of artificial feeding and the role of breastfeeding for children’s development and lifelong health and the health of mothers.
- Enable mothers to enjoy full support for breastfeeding in health care systems and beyond.
World Breastfeeding Week highlights the importance of supporting mothers so they can achieve the gold standard of infant feeding: breastfeeding exclusively for six months and providing appropriate complementary foods with continued breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond.
JCPH Nutrition Services offers:
- a free breast pump rental program for mothers enrolled in the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program and the Prenatal Plus Program.
- a free breastfeeding class is offered at the Lakewood, Arvada and Edgewater clinics.
- a Mother-to-Mother support group offered through the WIC Peer Counseling program to all who are interested. This support group includes peer counselors who are mothers that have already breastfed their own baby and are ready to share their advice with other young mothers.
For more information on JCPH Nutrition Services and the Breast Feeding Class contact Kim Phillips R.D., 303-275-7520.
For more information about World Breast Feeding Week, please visit http://www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org.
