Starting off right…
August 1-7th is World Breastfeeding Week! And this year’s theme is Breastfeeding: Foundation of Life! The theme and its focus, sponsored by World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, is just one more way of trying to erase the stigma and myths surrounding breastfeeding while getting down to the truth of the matter.
In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics endorses breastfeeding as the best way for an infant to receive nutrition. Unique from each mother, breast milk contains the perfect combination of protein, fat, vitamins, and other nutrients for babies to grow and become strong.
The benefits of breastfeeding…
- It fights disease-Breastfeeding helps to boost the infant’s immune system, helping them fight anything from ear infections to pneumonia. It can even help reduce risk later in life from things such as high blood pressure and asthma.
- It saves you money-It has been shown that breastfeeding can actually save a family up to $4,000 annually.
- It helps mom recover-Breastfeeding helps new moms to heal post-partum, and even reduces her risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and ovarian & breast cancer.
- It promotes sleep-breastmilk contains ingredients that promote both calmness and sleep in nursing babies–and also increases the bond between mother and child.
While breastfeeding is completely natural, it is also a learned behavior that required active support from family and caregivers. And year-round, WIC is an avid champion of this process, so join them in supporting women and babies throughout their communities. To find a local WIC center near you, click here.