World Breastfeeding Week: Surgeon General Reports Progress

The decision to breastfeed or not to breastfeed is an intensely personal one, based on a variety of circumstances.

For those mothers who choose to breastfeed and can do so, having family and societal support increases the odds that they and their babies will have a better breastfeeding experience.

U.S. Surgeon General Regina M. Benjamin released the following statement for World Breastfeeding Week, August 1 – 7, 2011.

“World Breastfeeding Week provides an opportunity to highlight the benefits of breastfeeding and to encourage everyone to support mothers who want to breastfeed. One of the most highly effective preventive measures a mother can take to protect the health of her infant and herself is to breastfeed. It protects babies from many infections and illnesses, such as diarrhea and pneumonia. Children who have been breastfed have lower rates of childhood obesity. Mothers who breastfeed have a decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

“The decision to breastfeed is a personal one, and a mother should not be made to feel guilty if she cannot or chooses not to breastfeed. But given the importance of breastfeeding for the health and well-being of mothers and children, we need to do what we can to help mothers who want to breastfeed to do so successfully.

“Earlier this year, I released the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding which outlines steps that can be taken to remove some of the obstacles faced by women who want to breastfeed their babies.

“The Affordable Care Act has made significant progress to support breastfeeding,which include historic new insurance guidelines that will ensure millions of women receive preventive health services without a co-pay or deductible. These new guidelines, developed by the independent Institute of Medicine, require insurance companies to cover certain women’s preventive services, including breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling.

“In addition, the ACA amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 by having employers provide reasonable break time and a place, other than a restroom, that is private and clean for a mother to express milk.

“I hope World Breastfeeding Week will spark conversations and efforts that will support women who want to breastfeed.”

Countless studies have concluded that breastfeeding is healthy for mothers and babies. Women who can and want to breastfeed deserve to be met with support from the medical community, their families, and from society as a whole.

Breastfeeding Resources
American Academy of Pediatrics
Centers for Disease Control
La Leche League
Women’sHealth.gov
World Health Organization

Image: istockphoto.com

Ann Pietrangelo is the author of “No More Secs! Living, Laughing & Loving Despite Multiple Sclerosis.” She is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors and The Author’s Guild, and a regular contributor to Care2 Healthy & Green Living and Care2 Causes. Follow on Twitter @AnnPietrangelo

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jennifer C.

1:04AM PDT on Aug 9, 2012

Thank you.

August 9
send a green star

Duane B.

3:20PM PDT on Aug 7, 2012

Thank you for sharing.

August 7
send a green star

KS G.

12:38AM PDT on Aug 30, 2011

Thanks for the article.

August 30
send a green star

Alicia N.

9:15PM PDT on Aug 7, 2011

noted

Raya B.

7:37PM PDT on Aug 6, 2011

Yay for Breastfeeding Support!

August 6
send a green star

caterina c.

2:27PM PDT on Aug 4, 2011

August 4
send a green star

2:26PM PDT on Aug 4, 2011

Andy K.

7:01AM PDT on Aug 3, 2011

Low Tech Method For Increasing Lactation Levels
'Hands Free' Masturbation is a simple method for increasing the quantity of breast milk produced. It can be done discretely, and can produce excess milk which can then be sold on to private hospitals who pay a premium for human milk. I got the concept in part from my grandfather's goats. When I milked them I noted that the more they enjoyed the experience the more milk they produced, and after being milked they were wide awake, their eye pupils were wide open, and they had a smile on their faces, which I later discovered were all signs of sexual pleasure. Later, I read that scientists had discovered that mother who enjoyed breast feeding the most also produced the most milk, and I linked the two facts together. Once I had discovered 'Hands Free' masturbation it was just a matter of time before I met a woman who was having difficulty with breast feeding, as this is a common problem. 'Hands Free' is simply tightening and relaxing the vaginal muscles until orgasm is achieved.

August 3
send a green star

Nola g.

6:48AM PDT on Aug 3, 2011

I breastfed both my children. Both are healthy, strong & smart. They both walked at 8 months old. They could both read at the age of 3. Breastfeeding really does help. It helps get your body back to its normal self after giving birth too.