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NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Babies were born to be breastfed!
03/30/2007
We at Clark County Health Department support human milk as the best infant nutrition for the first year of life and beyond with the introduction of solid foods at the appropriate age.
Infants fed human milk receive multiple health benefits. Breastfeeding also supports multiple nutritional, environmental and economic benefits compared to formula fed infants. Human milk helps infants grow and mature properly, especially in the first year of life when the brain doubles in size. Human milk has over 200 constituents, most not duplicated in formula, and provides immunological protection against a variety of illnesses. Unlike formula, human milk changes in composition to meet the growing infant’s nutritional needs.
Research shows that non-breastfed infants are less healthy. These babies experience more frequent infections including otitis media, pneumonia, diarrhea, meningitis, urinary tract infection, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Studies have shown that infants not breastfed are at increased risk for childhood-onset diabetes mellitus, obesity, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, childhood cancers like lymphoma and leukemia, and intestinal diseases such as Celiac Disease and Crohn’s Disease. Additional risks of not breastfeeding are increased incidence of asthma, allergies, multiple sclerosis, respiratory syncytial virus and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Moms also receive health benefits by breastfeeding. Breastfeeding stimulates the uterus to contract which reduces postpartum bleeding, delays ovulation, and help moms return to their pre-pregnancy weight. Research studies show that moms who breastfeed have lower incidence of osteoporosis and breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers. Breastfeeding also promotes bonding because of the hormones released during skin-to-skin contact.
Breastfeeding offers multiple economic and environmental benefits as well. Parents of breastfed babies miss fewer days of work due to illness, thus benefiting their employers and, subsequently, the economy. Formula costs $1,000 or more for a year’s supply with the additional burden of the nation and community bearing the environmental cost of its production and disposal (National WIC Association Position Paper, 2005).
We are pleased to announce that the Clark County Health Department has an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant on staff.
What is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)?
The IBLCE Certification is the professional standard of competency in the lactation field. It is the only official, international credential for those offering breastfeeding and lactation care. A combination of basic training, continuing education, practice and successful completion of the examination assures that the designation “IBCLC” identifies a member of the health care team who possesses specialized skills and knowledge.
If you have any questions about the benefits of breastfeeding, nursing positions, getting started or questions about breast care, sore nipples, engorgement, infections, returning to work, breastmilk storage, or weaning, we want to help.
Please contact Amy Williams, MS, RD, LD (859) 744-4482.
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