August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month
August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding and to encourage men, fathers, family, and friends to support new mothers as they begin to breastfeed.
This year’s theme, “Breastfeeding Support: Close to Mothers,” highlights the importance of support.
When a mother feels supported, she’s more likely to breastfeed, and breastfeed longer, protecting both she and her baby from a host of chronic and acute diseases and conditions.
The nutrients in breast milk help build the baby’s brain and immune system, so breastfed babies are better protected against illnesses, such as colds and ear infections than babies who are not breastfed. Breastfed babies also have less chance of developing childhood obesity.
Additional support is available to breastfeeding mothers through Mid-Michigan District Health Department’s (MMDHD) breastfeeding peer counselor program.
The four Women, Infants and Children (WIC) peer counselors assist breastfeeding moms by:
· Supporting and encouraging moms about to deliver, those who have just delivered, and those going back to work.
· Teaching prenatal breastfeeding classes
· Educating pregnant women and mothers as their baby grows
For more information, please contact one of MMDHDs Breastfeeding Peer Counselors:
Clinton County: 989-227-3137
Gratiot County: 989-875-1043
Montcalm County: 989-831-3625 or 989-831-3625