On August 4, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners will proclaim August as Local Breastfeeding Month. County services have long supported breastfeeding, but this year the Health Department is making a push to provide prenatal support and help moms breastfeed for at least one year.
This effort is backed by two new programs: the Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program that provides breastfeeding group support for prenatal and postnatal moms and Love’n Weigh, a postnatal group where moms can weigh their babies and address feeding concerns.
Both programs are available to moms that participate in Women Infants and Children (WIC), a county program that promotes nutrition for pregnant, breastfeeding women and children under 5 years of age among low-income families.
The Breastfeeding Peer Counseling program provides education prenatally and support to moms in the first six months after giving birth. WIC participants who have breastfed their own babies lead sessions that address the challenges of breastfeeding and infant care.
The Multnomah County Health Department supports breastfeeding because it is the best source of nutrition for babies. Breast milk provides essential nutrients that are not found in formula that help develop babies’ bodies, minds and immune systems.
Mothers’ health can also benefit from breastfeeding. Researchers have linked breastfeeding to lower incidences of type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and postpartum depression. Many studies have also reported greater weight loss after birth in mothers who breastfeed, but more research is needed to provide definite evidence of that link.
In addition improving health, breastfeeding saves money -- formula can cost over $1,500 each year. Because breastfed babies are sick less often, breastfeeding can also reduce families’ health care costs.
To celebrate breastfeeding in our community, Milagros Boutique is participating in The Big Latch On, an international event in which women will gather at various locations to break the record for the most women breastfeeding at the same time. The celebration begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 6 at Milagros, 5433 NE 30th Ave in Portland.