World Breastfeeding Week focuses on empowering parents to reach breastfeeding goals
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July 28, 2019
The Woods County Health Department joins the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDS) in promoting World Breastfeeding Week Aug. 1-7, with the theme “Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding.”
Empowerment is a process that requires evidence-based, unbiased information and support to create the enabling environment where mothers can breastfeed optimally. Breastfeeding is the mother's domain and when fathers, partners, families, workplaces and communities support her, breastfeeding improves.
The Woods County Health Department will be providing lactation support services to promote the benefits of breastfeeding and improve the overall health of babies and their families.
While most mothers start out breastfeeding, many do not exclusively breastfeed for six months or continue for up to 1 year of age or beyond as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Regional Director Maggie Jackson says, “We can all support this process, as breasfeeding is a team effort. To enable breastfeeding, we all need to protect, promote and support it.”
Data from the Oklahoma Toddler Survey (TOTS) indicates that although the numbers are gradually improving only 44 percent of mothers were breastfeeding at six months and 25.1 percent of mothers were breastfeeding at 12 months or more. The aim of the national Healthy People 2020 breastfeeding objectives is to increase the proportion of infants who are breastfed at six months to nearly 61 percent and at one year to 34 percent.
Terry Brice is the director of the OSDH Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Service, which provides nutrition services for infants and children up to age five.
“The WIC program plays a vital role in the promotion and support of breastfeeding,” said Bryce. “Breastfeeding peer counselors, international board certified lactation consultants and other lactation professionals help WIC elevate the capacity of breastfeeding to improve health outcomes of mothers and infants.”
For more information visit the OSDH breastfeeding website http://bis.health.ok.gov or call the Oklahoma Breastfeeding Hotline toll free at 1-877-271-MILK (6455). For more information about WIC, call 1/888-655-2942.
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