The Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in recognizing August 1 – 7 as World Breastfeeding Week, according to a Tuesday morning news release from the department.
The health department will host its annual World Breastfeeding Week Celebration on Friday, August 14. WIC Breastfeeding moms are invited to join us for a drive-through celebration from 1-3:30 p.m. at The WIC Center, located at 589 East College Street. Moms will receive a free gift. Participants must RSVP by Friday, Aug. 7 to attend. Call 731-423-3020 ext. 2114 to reserve a spot.
The WIC Center will also host Zoom breastfeeding classes for expecting moms Aug. 12 and Aug. 18. Moms can call the WIC office at 731-423-3020 to sign up. Prenatal moms who can’t attend those classes can register for breastfeeding classes at a later date.
Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for about the first six months with continued breastfeeding along with introducing appropriate foods for one year or longer. According to CDC, only 1 in 4 infants is exclusively breastfed by the time they reach 6 months old.
Breastfeeding benefits both mom and baby. Breastfed infants have a reduced risk of asthma, obesity, ear and respiratory infections, Type 2 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The rate of SIDS is reduced by over a third in breastfed babies and there is a 15 percent to 30 percent reduction in adolescent and adult obesity in breastfed vs. non-breastfed infants, according to AAP.
Breastfeeding can help lower a mother’s risk of high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. The longer an infant is breastfed, the greater the protection against certain illnesses and long-term diseases. The more months or years a woman breastfeeds, the greater the benefits to her health as well.
The WIC Center provides breastfeeding information, classes, and support for moms. We have a breastfeeding peer counselor available to help moms over the phone and in person. “Don’t be afraid to seek advice about breastfeeding if you need it,” Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Andrina Childs said. “Breastfeeding your child is one of the best decisions you can make for you and your baby.”
The Tennessee Breastfeeding Hotline is also available 24 hours a day at 1-855-4BFMOMS (236667).