Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the healthiest option for your baby. Research has shown that there is no better food than breast milk for your baby's first year of life and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. Beyond being a great option for your baby's health, breastfeeding also produces many health, economic and emotional benefits to both the mother and baby.

Every ten years, a Federal Interagency Workgroup creates a list of national objectives for improving the health of all Americans. This plan is called Healthy People 2020. The goals that are included in this plan are scientifically based to improve the health of America. Breastfeeding has been included specifically in several of the goals that make up this plan.

Some of these goals include:

• Increase the proportion of infants who are breastfed
• Increase the proportion of infants who are breastfed exclusively through 6 months
• Reduce the proportion of breastfed newborns who receive formula supplementation within the first two days of life
• Increase the proportion of live births that occur in facilities that provide recommended care for lactating mothers and their babies
• Increase the proportion of employers that have worksite lactation support programs

Each of these goals should be a focus as you decide whether or not to breastfeed and for how long. Since breast milk is the healthiest food for your baby, at HNSR, we will teach you how to continue to breastfeed after you return to work or school. We can also provide information on obtaining and using a breast pump. Moms who breastfeed their babies will also get additional food benefits from WIC.