MONROE — Sunday, Aug. 1 marked the beginning of National Breastfeeding Month. This year’s theme is Every Step of the Way.
“We envision a world in which every family is supported at every step along the infant feeding journey, with warm and coordinated hand offs and transitions so that the needs of lactating families and those who support them are anticipated and met, every step of the way,” a statement from the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee read.
Breastfeeding is important to both the health of the baby and the mother. Breastmilk has all the essential nutrients a baby needs to grow, it is easy for babies to digest, the cost is free and it is always ready without the need of preparation. Babies who are breastfed have reduced risks for diabetes, asthma, ear infections and respiratory infections. Breastfeeding can decrease the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, as well as breast and ovarian cancers for parents who breastfeed. Additionally, breastfeeding can help mothers heal faster after delivery, and increase relaxation. Breastfeeding can also help the parent and their baby bond.
Efforts surrounding breastfeeding in Green County have resulted in an increase of resources available to parents. Green County Public Health and Monroe Clinic currently have a combined total of 9 Certified Lactation Counselors (CLCs), an increase of 3 from 2018. The Green County Breastfeeding Collaborative, comprised of moms, healthcare providers and community organizations, works to promote, support and protect breastfeeding. This group has worked with employers to provide them consultation on how to be more breastfeeding friendly for their employees and developed a Breastfeeding Friendly Employer Toolkit. The collaborative also developed a breastfeeding resource guide for community members.
Green County Public Health/WIC provides guidance to parents on their breastfeeding journey. Parents searching for help or who have questions are encouraged to contact Green County Public Health/WIC by email at info@greencountywi.org or by phone at 608-328-9390 to learn more about WIC or to talk to a Certified Lactation Counselor or Breastfeeding Peer Counselor. Contacting your child’s pediatrician can be a helpful place to start as well. Additionally, Monroe Clinic offers a Breastfeeding Class and Child Birth Education Class, for more information call 608-324-2000.
“In public health, it is critical that we engage our whole community to support breastfeeding not just in the month of Aug., but year-round. As a community, it is our personal responsibility to protect the health and well-being of our youngest community members and the people who are their caregivers.” said Jaime Batz, Registered Nurse and Certified Lactation Counselor who is the Green County Breastfeeding Coordinator and leads the Green County Breastfeeding Collaborative.
Green County community members can participate in National Breastfeeding Month, and celebrate breastfeeding every month, by taking the following actions:
● Share your breastfeeding experience with others
● When sharing tips on breastfeeding with others, use information from reliable sources
● Participate in events and activities in the community that promote and support breastfeeding
● Encourage your employer to have breastfeeding friendly spaces for moms to comfortably pump milk for their baby
● Advocate to government and public places to establish breastfeeding friendly spaces that normalize breastfeeding in public
To stay up to date on all things Green County Public Health please monitor the Green County Public Health website and Facebook page.
