Last year on August 16th, 2022, the Green County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution declaring August as Green County Breastfeeding Month. This resolution is a meaningful way our community has recognized the importance of breastfeeding. August is also National Breastfeeding Month, which has been celebrated across the country since 2011. The theme for National Breastfeeding Month this year is: This is Our Why, which was chosen to help shed light on the many reasons why breastfeeding is so important.
Breastfeeding is beneficial for both the health of the baby and the parent. Breastmilk has all the essential nutrients a baby needs to grow, and according to the CDC, as the baby grows, the mother’s breastmilk changes to meet the nutritional needs of the baby. Breastmilk is also easy for babies to digest. Through breastfeeding, mothers share antibodies with their baby, which helps their baby develop a strong immune system. Babies who are breastfed have reduced risks of some short-term and long-term illnesses, including diabetes, asthma, ear infections, and respiratory infections.
Parents who breastfeed have a decreased risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, as well as breast and ovarian cancers. Additionally, breastfeeding can help mothers heal faster after delivering their baby and can be relaxing for many parents. Breastfeeding can also help a mother and their baby bond. Lastly, breastfeeding is free, and it is always ready without the need for preparation, like mixing formula or preparing bottles.
Green County has several resources available to parents to support them while they’re breastfeeding. The Green County Breastfeeding Collaborative, made up of representatives of Green County Public Health and SSM Health Monroe, created and maintains a Green County Breastfeeding Guide. Parents can download this guide by visiting the Green County Public Health website: https://wi-greencounty.civicplus.com/382/Breastfeeding
Green County Public Health and SSM Health Monroe have several Certified Lactation Counselors (CLCs). These are individuals who have gone through a five-day training to attain comprehensive breastfeeding skills. CLCs can provide education, support, and help with breastfeeding concerns. Some examples where a CLC can make a difference are: counseling to attain a good latch, offering guidance and assistance when pumping is needed, troubleshooting issues with pumps and providing referrals for specialized lactation services. Green County Public Health offers breastfeeding support to any community member who is interested in learning more about breastfeeding or has questions, community members can call our office at (608) 328-9390 to talk with one of our Public Health Nurses/CLCs. Our Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program also offers additional resources, including breast pumps and support from a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, to eligible families. Families interested in learning more about WIC can contact our office at the same phone number listed above. Additionally, SSM Health Monroe offers a Breastfeeding Class and Child Birth Education Class, patients can call 608-324-2000 to learn more about these classes.
Even Green County community members who are not breastfeeding parents can participate in National Breastfeeding Month, and celebrate breastfeeding every month, by helping support breastfeeding mothers. If you have breastfed in the past, consider sharing your positive breastfeeding experiences with others. If you breastfed and overcame any challenges, share that experience with those who may benefit from hearing your story. If you share tips about breastfeeding, be sure to use information from reliable sources like WomensHealth.org, the CDC, or La Leche League. If you are a local employer, be sure that you create a breastfeeding-friendly workplace for your employees. Under the PUMP Act, recently passed at the end of 2022, most employees have the right to break time and a private space to express breast milk for their child. Under this act, for up to a year following a child’s birth, employees can take reasonable break time to express milk, and a private space other than a bathroom should be available for employees to pump. Additionally, allow time for employees to pump milk, which is an essential nutritional need to feed their children. If you need help making your business breastfeeding-friendly, you can visit the Green County Public Health website and download the Breastfeeding Friendly Employer Toolkit: https://wi-greencounty.civicplus.com/382/Breastfeeding. Lastly, community members can advocate for government and public places to establish breastfeeding-friendly spaces that normalize breastfeeding in public.
To learn more about breastfeeding, local breastfeeding resources, and other public health info, we encourage people to visit the Green County Public Health website: https://wi-greencounty.civicplus.com/192/Public-Health, and to follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
greencountyph.
— Bridget Zimmerman is the Public Health Educator for the Green County Public Health Department and can be reached at bzimmerman@greencountywi.org or 608-328-9509.
