August is Minnesota Breastfeeding Awareness Month

August is Minnesota Breastfeeding Awareness Month, which is celebrated in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week, Aug. 1-7. The 2013 World Breastfeeding Week theme, Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers, highlights the importance of providing support to breastfeeding families.

Breastfeeding is important for both mother and baby. Human milk is tailored to the needs of the human infant. Research shows that infants who are not exclusively breastfed for their first six months of life are more likely to develop a wide range of chronic and acute diseases, including ear infections, diarrheal diseases, asthma, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, obesity and respiratory illnesses. Mothers also benefit from breastfeeding with a decreased risk for breast and ovarian cancers.

Over 80 percent of Minnesota mothers breastfeed. However, many stop breastfeeding earlier than planned, or do not breastfeed at all because they face barriers that keep them from achieving their personal breastfeeding goals. Support and encouragement from family, friends, employers, communities, health care providers, and child care providers reduces barriers and helps mothers who wish to breastfeed overcome the barriers they encounter.

Rice County Public Health nurses and WIC staff, as well as WIC staff throughout Minnesota, answer questions, help address barriers, provide information to pregnant women and assist new mothers in getting off to a great start with breastfeeding.

Other sources of breastfeeding support in communities include local hospital and clinic staff, La Leche Leagues, and support groups such as Baby Talk in Northfield and Baby Stop in Faribault. Another source of support can be an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), a certified healthcare professional with special knowledge and experience assisting breastfeeding families. Mothers can find a local IBCLC to help them with breastfeeding questions and concerns by visiting the “Find a Lactation Consultant” Directory at www.ILCA.org

— This is from the Rice County website.