Henry & Stark County Health Department

This year's theme focuses on the importance of communication in protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding as the normal way to feed babies. Creating and expanding communication about breastfeeding through social media outlets is leading to wider outreach and support in the community. Surfing the web for accurate breastfeeding information or sharing knowledge and experiences is just a click away.

Mandi Moore, Health Department Lactation Peer Counselor, notes, "The facts is that breastfeeding is the one safe and secure source of food and fluid for infants - instantly available, providing active protection against illness and keeping an infant warm and close to his/her mother. It also reduces the risk of post-partum hemorrhage in the mother, the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. In the challenging and risky environment of an emergency, how infants are fed is key to their survival."

The Department staff notes that there are many benefits to breastfeeding. Even if new mothers are able to do it for only a short time, a baby's immune system can benefit from breast milk. Here are many other benefits of breast milk for a mother, her baby, and others:

BENEFITS FOR BABY:

* Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. A mother's milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby's growth and development. Babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula.

* Premature babies do better when breastfed compared to premature babies who are fed formula.

* Breastfed babies score slightly higher on IQ tests, especially babies who were born prematurely.

BENEFITS FOR MOM:

* Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds of pregnancy. It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth.

* Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and possibly the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause.

* Breastfeeding makes your life easier. It saves time and money. You do not have to purchase, measure, and mix formula. There are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night!

* Breastfeeding can help a mother to bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm and comforted.

BENEFITS FOR SOCIETY:

* Breastfeeding saves on health care costs. Total medical care costs for the nation are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants since breastfed infants typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations.

* Breastfeeding contributes to a more productive workforce.

Breastfeeding mothers miss less work, as their infants are sick less often.

Employer medical costs are also lower and worker productivity is higher.

* Breastfeeding is better for our environment because there is less trash and plastic waste compared to that produced by formula cans and bottle supplies.

For more information on breastfeeding and talk to a Certified Lactation Counselor call the Health Departments at (309) 852-5272

　The Henry and Stark County Health Department announces that members of their staff recently attended the 2011 Illinois State Breastfeeding and Peer Counselor Conference. Michele Beckstrom, RN Health Department WIC/Case Management Nurse and Amanda Moore, Health Department Breastfeeding Peer Counselor attended the two day event held recently in Springfield, IL.

Beckstrom notes, "The conference theme was "Breastfeeding Perspectives in Today's World."

The goals for the conference were to describe the priority of exclusive breastfeeding for all mothers; identify methods of enhancing collaboration between community breastfeeding support experts and medical professionals; and learning about the different types of social media used to engage and inspire behavior change.

The conference featured a multitude of informative workshops covering such varied topic areas as: overcoming breastfeeding ambivalence, helping the millennial moms breastfeed, collaborating with community partners and medical professionals, and making the breastfeeding strategic plan work in your clinic.

In addition, the conference featured exhibit booths, special event sponsorships, poster and display sessions, and valuable networking activities. Beckstrom and Moore participated in the poster session with their Academy Award inspired "Best Picture/Stars of Breastfeeding" display.

For more information on the Health Departments WIC/Casemanagement and Breastfeeding Peer Support programs call the Department at (309) 852-5272 Main Office, (309) 792-4011 Colona Office

With this theme the WIC and Casemanagement programs of the Henry and Stark County Health Departments  call for increased support for mothers in achieving the highest standard of infant feeding: breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months, and continue breastfeeding together with feeding other appropriate complementary foods for up to two years and beyond.

Mandi Moore, Health Department Lactation Peer, notes, "Breastfeeding is the one safe and secure source of food and fluid for infants - instantly available, providing active protection against illness and keeping an infant warm and close to his/her mother. It also reduces the risk of post-partum haemorrahage in the mother, the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. In the challenging and risky environment of an emergency, how infants are fed is key to their survival."

In accordance with World Breastfeeding Week, the Department staff notes that there are many benefits to breastfeeding. Even if new mothers are able to do it for only a short time, a baby's immune system can benefit from breast milk. Here are many other benefits of breast milk for a mother, her baby, and others:

BENEFITS FOR BABY:

* Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. A mother's milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby's growth and development. Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula.

* Premature babies do better when breastfed compared to premature babies who are fed formula.

* Breastfed babies score slightly higher on IQ tests, especially babies who were born prematurely.

BENEFITS FOR MOM:

* Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds of pregnancy. It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth.

* Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and possibly the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause.

* Breastfeeding makes your life easier. It saves time and money. You do not have to purchase, measure, and mix formula. There are not bottles to warm in the middle of the night!

* Breastfeeding can help a mother to bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm and comforted.

BENEFITS FOR SOCIETY:

* Breastfeeding saves on health care costs. Total medical care costs for the nation are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants since breastfed infants typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations.

* Breastfeeding contributes to a more productive workforce.

     Breastfeeding mothers miss less work, as their infants are sick less often.

     Employer medical costs are also lower and worker productivity is higher.

* Breastfeeding is better for our environment because ther is leass trash and plastic waste compared to that produced by formula cans and bottle supplies.

For more information on breastfeeding and talk to a Certified Lactation Counselor call the Health Departments at (309) 852-5272