Breastfeeding provides an important foundation for healthy eating, growth, and development for babies. August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and this year the focus is to reinforce the connections between breastfeeding and a broad spectrum of other health topics and initiatives.
Breast milk is the most nutritious food for infants, and it plays a significant role in optimizing health, and preventing chronic diseases as a child grows older. The cells, hormones, and antibodies in breastmilk help protect babies from illnesses like diarrhea, ear infections, and pneumonia. This protection is unique, and changes every day to meet your baby’s growing needs. Babies that are breastfed are less likely to develop asthma, type 2 diabetes, and are less likely to become obese.
Breastfeeding plays a role in helping mothers heal following childbirth, and leads to a lower risk for type 2 diabetes, certain types of breast cancer, and ovarian cancer.
Governor Asa Hutchinson has endorsed the10-year Healthy Active Arkansas (HAA) initiative to increase the number of Arkansans who are at a healthy weight. HAA recognizes the connection between breastfeeding and obesity prevention, and therefore includes a priority area that is focused on breastfeeding.
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) has a variety of initiatives that promote awareness and support of breastfeeding. The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program is dedicated to promoting and supporting breastfeeding for all mothers and babies. WIC, in partnership with Baptist Health, offers a breastfeeding helpline 24/7 at 1-800-445-6175. Information about breastfeeding, breastfeeding rights, and other helpful information can be found at the Arkansas Department of Health website at www.healthy.arkansas.gov.
The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) promoted World Breastfeeding Week from August 1 – 7. During that week they focused on the impact breastfeeding has on nutrition, food security, poverty reduction, survival, health and wellbeing, the environment and climate change, and women’s productivity and employment. Additional information on the powerful impact of breastfeeding can be found at www.worldbreastfeedingweek.org.