Recognizing National Breastfeeding Awareness Month

By: Liz Miller, RN, IBCLC, Certified Lactation Consultant, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare August marks National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, an initiative to promote, protect and support breastfeeding by women in our community and across the world. One of the most personal decisions a mother can make surrounding the arrival of her little one is how to feed her new baby. At Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH), our goal is to equip every mom with the information she needs to make that important decision for herself and her baby and, in turn, to respect whatever that decision may be. As the region’s only accredited Baby-Friendly Hospital, we employ evidence-based practices to help mom and baby bond and to promote safe feeding. In supporting expecting and new mothers both in and out of the hospital, we also educate women on the benefits of breastfeeding, working with them on an individual basis to help promote the evidence-based practice as an option. The Benefits of Breastmilk The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding as the sole source of nutrition for infants for at least the first four to six months of life. While the act of breastfeeding provides invaluable bonding time for mom and baby, breastmilk itself has measurable benefits for both baby and mom. When available, human milk provides all of the nutrition a baby needs to grow and develop, including protein, fats, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and carbohydrates. Benefits of breastmilk for babies include: Building baby’s immune system and preventing infection and inflammation Promoting optimal development of the brain, which is especially important for premature infants Being more easily digestible Potentially lowering the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) Benefits of breastfeeding for mom include: Lowering a mother’s risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer Releasing the hormone oxytocin, which helps the uterus return […]

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