— from San Juan County Communications —
August 1-7, 2015 marks the annual celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, a global call to action for support and empowerment for ALL women in achieving their breastfeeding goals. This celebration highlights the positive impact breastfeeding has on long-term health.
This year’s theme or World Breastfeeding Week is, “Breastfeeding and Work, Let’s Make it Work.” Breastfeeding mothers have fewer absences from work, lose weight faster, and have healthier babies. Mothers are the fastest growing segment in the U.S. workforce. Whether a woman is working from home or in a formal office setting, it is necessary for her to be supported in claiming her right to breastfeed her baby.
San Juan County Health & Community Services joins health organizations worldwide to promote awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding for infants, mothers, community, and society. Breastfed babies have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and constipation. Breastfeeding promotes mother, infant, and family bonding and may reduce the risk of childhood obesity. San Juan County has the highest rate in Washington State of women initiating breastfeeding at birth, a statistic to be proud of.
San Juan County’s Women, Infants and Children Nutritional Program (WIC) offers breastfeeding education and support services to families in our community. Breastfeeding assistance is available by phone, home visits and clinic appointments on San Juan, Lopez, and Orcas Islands, and may be accessed by calling 378-4474.
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