ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
The first week of August is World Breastfeeding Week. At Andrews, Malcolm Grow Medical Center's lactation consultants and Family Advocacy's New Parent Support Program are commemorating the theme, "Mother Support: Going for the Gold-Everyone Wins When Babies Breastfeed," throughout the month of August.
New parents hear the familiar refrain repeatedly when deciding between formula and breast feeding: "breast is best." And, according to recent research, this common adage is not far from the truth.
"Research shows that breastfeeding is the gold standard in infant feeding," said Brenda Smith, Family Advocacy's New Parent Support Program Manager. "That's why the theme is called, 'Going for the Gold.' It provides the best care for both the infant and the mother."
Mrs. Smith states that research shows that breastfeeding has a tremendous impact on infant and maternal health. In 2007, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality published a detailed analysis on the impact of breastfeeding in developed countries. "The study concluded that breastfeeding had a profound impact on both the infant and the mother," said Mrs. Smith.
"Breastfeeding reduced the risk of lower respiratory tract infections, asthma, obesity, type 1 and 2 diabetes, childhood leukemia and sudden infant death syndrome in the child. In the mother, breastfeeding the child reduced the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and type 2 diabetes."
According to the International Lactation Consultant Association, The World Health Organization reports that the "gold standard" in breastfeeding means that women breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of the child's life and continue to breastfeed for at least two years while babies begin eating appropriate complementary food.
Rebecca Mannel, International Lactation Consultant Association president, said that "many mothers choose not to begin breastfeeding, or begin supplements or wean completely well before the recommended time and one of the biggest factors is that women do not always get the support they need from the community."
Mrs. Smith said Andrews provides a wide array of services for the mother. "There are lactation consultants available to mothers right here at Malcolm Grow. They can provide detailed instructions as to how to breastfeed your infant." Members of the Malcolm Grow Breastfeeding Support staff include Hazel Aaron-Brewster, Ruthann Johns, Cynthia Pinder, Diane Stutts, and Geraldine Thompson. The members of the Malcolm Grow Breastfeeding support staff are conveniently located at the Family Practice Clinic, Labor and Delivery Unit, Pediatric Clinic, and Women's Health Clinic. Mrs. Smith also provides the lactation consultant service as part of the New Parent Support Program.
The Malcolm Grow Medical Center lobby currently has a display case dedicated to this month's theme. Further information on breastfeeding is available at the aforementioned clinics. For more information, call 240-857-7501.