ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – This August, the Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County is celebrating National Breastfeeding Awareness Month to promote breastfeeding as a vital, health activity, and to encourage breastfeeding friendly locations in the community.
"The health benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and babies cannot be under estimated," said DOH-St. Johns Director of Nursing, Elaine Mathews.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mothers who breastfeed their children are at a healthier weight on average than those who do not.
They also have a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, breast and ovarian cancer. Children who are breastfed also have a lower risk for developing respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, asthma, obesity and sudden infant death syndrome.
During the month of August, DOH-St. Johns will be partnering with local area pediatricians and obstetricians to provide breastfeeding mothers with a resource kit containing educational material and supplies to promote breastfeeding.
DOH-St. Johns is trying to get breastfeeding mother to reach the goal of exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months.
For that though mothers need supportive maternity leave policies, flexible work hours, infant and child-care at or near the workplace and private places for expressing and storing breast milk.
The DOH-St. Johns has a dedicated staff who teach and support mothers with breastfeeding.
For more information about DOH-St. Johns, please visit: stjohns.floridahealth.gov. For information on the Florida Breastfeeding Coalition's Quality Maternity Care Initiative, please visit: flbreastfeeding.org/hospital.htm.