Mark A. McDonnell, RS, MS, Health Commissioner

Robert P. Dillaplain, MD, Medical Director

News Release

For Immediate Release Contact: Shannon Taylor, Asst. Public Information Officer

July 25, 2008 (937) 374-5669 or 1 (866) 858-3588

August Marks the Beginning of Breastfeeding Awareness Month

(XENIA, OH) August 1-7, 2008, is World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) and marks the beginning of Breastfeeding Awareness Month in Ohio. This year’s theme is Mother Support: Going for the Gold and corresponds with the August Olympic Games. This theme offers the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) maternal and child health programs the opportunity to partner with and congratulate those state and local institutions that provide effective breastfeeding support and care to families that choose to breastfeed their babies. Mothers, like Olympic athletes, need the support of family, friends and their communities in order to be successful. Both athletes and breastfeeding mothers face challenges. For a breastfeeding mother, these challenges include dealing with misinformation, continuing to breastfeed while working outside the home, coping in emergency situations and most importantly, overcoming doubts about her ability to breastfeed her baby. Belief in oneself is a key ingredient for success for both athletes and mothers.

“The health benefits of breastfeeding for children include: a 20-30 percent reduced risk of obesity, a reduced risk of SIDS, fewer ear and respiratory infections, a reduced risk of developing juvenile and type 2 diabetes and an average increase of six points in IQ at age 6 ½,” said ODH Director Alvin D. Jackson, M.D. “The health benefits for mothers who breastfeed include: a 24 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer, a lower risk of developing osteoporosis later in life, and a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The economic benefits of breastfeeding include: an average infant formula cost savings of $800 per year and greatly decreased health care costs compared with formula-fed babies -- $4,000 vs. $68,000 in a six month period for a matched group. The health benefits for society include: decreased energy used to process formula and less landfill used to dispose of container waste.”

Ohio ranks 44^th in breastfeeding initiation rates at 59.6 percent as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Breastfeeding Report Card issued in April 2008. Ohio health care providers, family members and society can support a breastfeeding mother by:

· Discussing breastfeeding early in her pregnancy.

· Educating her family about why it is important to breastfeed and how to support her decision to breastfeed.

· Educating hospital staffs and health care providers on how to support breastfeeding.

· Creating breastfeeding coalitions to advocate for legislation that supports breastfeeding.

· Encouraging employers to support their breastfeeding employees.

· Working with disaster preparedness organizations to support safe infant feeding.

· Asking the media to promote breastfeeding as the norm.

The Greene County Combined Health District promotes and supports breastfeeding among its employees and also among clients in the WIC program, Tots-N-Teens clinic and Women’s Health Services clinics. Three WIC Breastfeeding Peer Helpers follow clients from pregnancy through the first year of an infant’s life to provide personalized breastfeeding support and assistance. An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) provides assistance with more difficult breastfeeding problems. Breastfeeding classes, breast pumps, and baby slings are available free of charge to WIC program clients. The Health District also has an employee breastfeeding policy allowing flexible scheduling to support an employees’ need to breastfeeding or pump during the work day.

Greene County Health Commissioner Mark A. McDonnell, states, “Breastfed babies are healthier babies. When our moms decide to breastfeed, we provide a supportive environment from birth to encourage them to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Everyone benefits from having healthier mothers, babies, and children.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION about breastfeeding in Greene County please call the Help Me Grow Helpline at 1-800-755-GROW or Nancy Cohen, MS, RD, LD, IBCLC, WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator, at 374-5642 or toll-free at 1-866-858-3588.

Greene County Combined Health District – Your center for public health services and health information in Greene County for over 80 years.

Healthy People…Healthy Communities

360 Wilson Drive

Xenia, OH 45385

937-374-5600 * 866-858-3588 * Fax 937-374-5675