August: National Breastfeeding Month
On August 6, 2011, The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) officially declared that August is National Breastfeeding Month.
The theme of National Breastfeeding Month 2019 is “Support Changes Everything.”
Did You Know:
- African Americans have the lowest rates of breastfeeding initiation (60%) and continuation at 6 months (28%) and 12 months (13%) compared with all other racial/ethnic groups in the United States.
- African American mothers are 2.5 times less likely to breastfeed than white women.
- Since 1990 African American women have been 16% less likely to the continue breastfeeding for 6 at least months
- African American women (32%) are also more likely than most minority groups to provide formula supplementation by 2 days of life.
Benefits of Breastfeeding:
Breastfeeding is good for both mom and baby. Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most babies. As babies grow, the mother’s breast milk will change to meet their nutritional needs. Breastfeeding can also help protect mothers and their babies against some short- and long-term illnesses and diseases.
How long should you breastfeed:
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding exclusively for about 6 months, and then continuing breastfeeding while introducing complementary foods until your child is 12 months old or older. This provides your child with ideal nutrition and supports growth and development.
Resources for breastfeeding mothers and their supporters:
National WIC Association:
U.S. Department of Agriculture:
U. S. Breastfeeding Committee:
World Health Organization:
- Breastfeeding Infographic: Breastfeeding: Global targets 2025
- Fact Sheet: “Infant and young child feeding“
Healthy bodies are beautiful bodies. Please take the time to be aware of the different issues that may affect you and make a conscious effort to prevent them. To find out more about Breastfeeding, The USBC, and what they are doing to raise awareness visit www.usbreastfeeding.org/nbm19.
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