“This year, we are aiming on helping people identify their support system so that they know if they have a question, if they've got a problem, if they need something, who are they going to call?” said Lori Nester, breastfeeding coordinator for the Allen County WIC program. “And that can include family and friends, knowing who to call at your doctor’s office, at the hospital, the WIC office — wherever you might need to make that call.”
Dr. Lam, who led the research, said the American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends women exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life. However, that’s not always possible. In some cases, a woman may not have access to maternity leave, so they decide to skip breastfeeding altogether, or, they may stop early because they find pumping at work to be difficult.
It's one of the most natural things between a mother and her child, yet there are still stigmas surrounding it. August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month, with this week being World Breastfeeding Week. "Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All" is this year's theme, focusing on reducing the inequalities that still exist in our society regarding breastfeeding. While Ohio has made strides in protecting a woman's right to breastfeed in public places, many mothers still face insecurities about whether they can pump at work.
August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month and health officials along with legislators are still working to break the barriers that keep mothers from being able to pump at work. The "Pump act" is currently working its way through congress to increase the accessibility for mothers to continue to breastfeed when heading back to the workforce.
Breastfeeding is just a natural part of life as a mother tends to her infant. The benefits of breastfeeding affect both the infant and the mother in different ways. Not only in their physical health but also their mental health. The longer the mother can breastfeed the better and the taboo that is sometimes associated with that needs to change.
Although COVID-19 is a new virus, research so far has shown that it is unlikely to be spread through breast milk.
It's considered one of the most natural things for a mother to do for their child but it can still cause controversy if done in public.
A group of families came together in downtown Lima Saturday morning to join mothers around the world in advocating breastfeeding.
