Getting Babies Off to the Best Start - It's National Breastfeeding Month

It’s been known for decades that breastfeeding offers babies the opportunity for the healthiest start in life.  The practice is also extremely beneficial to the mother.  According to the National Institutes of Health, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of OBGYNs, breastfeeding helps babies:

Ward off viruses, bacteria and gastrointestinal illnesses such as diarrhea;

• Lower risk of allergies, asthma, type 1 diabetes and other common childhood diseases;
• With emotional well-being and bonding with the mother;
• Develop a higher IQ; and
• Lower risk of childhood obesity

Breastfeeding helps mothers:

• Reduce their risk of postpartum depression;
• Bond emotionally with their babies;
• With postpartum weight loss; and
• Lower their chance of developing certain cancers, cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

Our "Loving Support" program-a component of WIC services-employs mothers who have breastfed or are breastfeeding to help WIC moms on their breastfeeding journey.  These peer counselors are available for advice and support during the entire time of the mothers’ breastfeeding experiences while their children are on WIC. The Women’s, Infant and Children (WIC) program is a health and supplemental nutrition program for pregnant women, breastfeeding women up to 12-months postpartum, non-breastfeeding women up to 6-months postpartum and infants and children up to 5-years of age who have a medical/nutritional risk and meet financial eligibility criteria.

Mothers seeking more information on “Loving Support” or any of the Fulton County Health and Wellness WIC services may call 404-612-3942.  A WIC Call Center attendant will direct you to the health center that is most convenient.  There is more information on WIC services available online at www.fultoncountygahealth.org and www.dph.ga.gov/WIC.