World Breastfeeding

August 1, 2018 marked the beginning of the 26th annual World Breastfeeding Week. The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) in conjunction with over 120 countries, UNICEF, WHO, as well as governments, partners, and communities celebrate this week every year with the goal of breastfeeding promotion and education.

“If breastfeeding did not already exist, someone who invented it today would deserve a dual Nobel Prize in medicine and economics.”   –Keith Hansen, World Bank

Breastfeeding Benefits

Each year, World Breastfeeding Week features a theme. This year the theme is Breastfeeding: Foundation of Life. The three key factors in this theme are:

  • Preventing malnutrition in all its forms
    • It is estimated that breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity by about 10% compared to formula feeding
    • In low-to medium-income countries, breastfed babies had a 21% lower risk of death than babies who were never breastfed
  • Ensuring food security, even in times of crisis
    • More than 4000 liters of water are required to produce only 1 kilogram of infant powder formula
    • Surprisingly, both the quality and quantity of breastmilk production is relatively unaffected by a woman’s nutritional status. The only exception being extremely malnourished women, accounting for only about 1 percent of women.
  • Breaking the cycle of poverty
    • Breastfeeding is an investment in global health. For every $1 invested in breastfeeding, $35 in economic returns are generated.
    • Not breastfeeding can be linked to about $302 billion in economic losses each year of world gross national income.

Globally, breastfeeding can have a positive influence in improving malnutrition, poverty, and ensuring food security. The health and well-being of both women and children in every country can be improved with a strong foundation of breastfeeding.

Lactation Services: Our Commitment to You!

At Mainstreet Pediatrics, we are here to support your infant feeding goals! Whether you want to exclusively breastfeed your baby, pump and bottle feed, or formula feed, we are here to provide education and assistance through our practitioners and our board-certified lactation consultant, Kelly Allison-Pickering, RN, IBCLC, RLC.

Kelly can see you for a lactation consult here in our convenient office location or in the comfort of your own home in the Parker area. Often, your lactation consult can be billed to your health insurance company (be sure to contact your insurance company for the specifics of your plan for lactation coverage). Common reasons for lactation consults include but are not limited to:

  • Prenatal questions or concerns
  • Private breastfeeding classes
  • Low milk supply
  • Difficulty latching
  • Sore nipples
  • Slow weight gain
  • Reflux
  • Weaning
  • Pumping
  • Returning to work
  • Oversupply
  • Weaning
  • Extended breastfeeding
  • Medication use during breastfeeding
  • Mastitis or plugged ducts
  • Tongue tie
  • Prematurity
  • Breastfeeding twins or multiples
  • Tandem nursing
  • Baby with special needs such as Downs Syndrome or a cleft lip

Even if you simply feel like you need some emotional support and encouragement with breastfeeding, Kelly is available to meet with you. To learn more about breastfeeding support at Mainstreet Pediatrics or to schedule a private consult with Kelly, please contact us at 720-458-6543. Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

World Breastfeeding

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