Its National Breastfeeding Awareness Month!

When a woman becomes pregnant one of the most important decisions she will make is how to feed her baby. Will she breast feed, bottle feed or formula feed? It is important to remember that this is 100% the mother’s choice. The goal of Breastfeeding Awareness Month is to EMPOWER women to commit and help them be successful in breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding has many wonderful benefits for babies, as well as the mother! Babies who are breastfed have a decreased incidence of infections, long term protection on their health, less SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) risk and stronger bones. Mothers also get some benefits from breastfeeding including better healing after delivery, decreased risk of ovarian and premenopausal breast cancer, and breastfeeding also burns calories which can result in quicker weight loss!

There are many helpful resources throughout the community to help with common breastfeeding problems including poor latch, sore or painful nipples, milk supply issues and many more. The first resource most women have is the lactation consultants and nursing staff in the hospital! My advice: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HOSPITAL HELP! They are there to help with any issues you have! It is normal for breastfeeding to be hard and draining in the beginning but it will pass! Remember – MOM and BABY are both learning, just like a child learning to ride a bike! After discharge from the hospital, there are resources such as Milk Works, who have lactation consultants and supplies. Many hospitals also have weekly “Mommy and Me” classes that offer help, advice and discussion on common problems.