— from San Juan County Communications —
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from August 1-7 in a global initiative to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. San Juan County Health & Community Services joins professional health organizations worldwide to promote awareness of the numerous benefits of breastfeeding for infants, mothers, community, and society.
The theme for World Breastfeeding Week is ‘Sustaining Breastfeeding Together,” which highlights the need to work together so mothers can breastfeed. A breastfeeding mother and baby need support from many around them, including family, employer, health professionals, community groups, local businesses, child care and church to breastfeed successfully. One of the leading reasons for stopping breastfeeding is a lack of support. Breastfeeding has numerous short and long term benefits for both children and women. Breastmilk is all a baby needs to eat and drink for the first six months of life.
San Juan County consistently has the highest breastfeeding initiation rate in the state. Our WIC & Newborn Outreach programs offer breastfeeding education and support services in our community from Breastfeeding Peer Counselors, Public Health Nurses, and Lactation Consultants.
Breastfeeding assistance is available by phone, home visits and clinic appointments on San Juan, Lopez, and Orcas Islands.
Breastfeeding information and support may be accessed through San Juan County Health & Community Services (360-378-4474).
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If you know new parents (or those on their way to being), encourage them, bring them good food and drink, and let them know about this. You (and this program) make more of a difference than you could ever know.
Big thanks to SJC Health and Community staff!