To the editor:
Twenty years ago, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action launched its first World Breastfeeding Week campaign. So much has happened in the past 20 years, it is time to celebrate but also to look back, understand what has happened and why. It was also time to plan what more can be done to support all women to be able to optimally feed and care for of their infants and young children.
Breastfeeding gives all children an equal start regardless of family economical status or living conditions. Worldwide, child mortality would be reduced by 13-20 percent, if infants were immediately placed skin-to-skin, exclusively breastfed for six months and breastfeeding was continued for at least two years. Early initiation of breastfeeding can help protect the mother’s health by reducing the risk of anemia, breast and ovarian cancer, and diabetes. Helping with weight management and their reproductive lives are additional benefits to mothers who breastfeed.
The Aroostook Breastfeeding Coalition’s mission is to help moms achieve breastfeeding goals by providing breastfeeding education and support, linking them to lactation specialists, nurses, dietitians, and breastfeeding peer counselors.
Help the Aroostook Breastfeeding Coalition celebrate the successes of World Breastfeeding Week by joining us at the Northern Maine Fair in the Ladies Pavilion. Also, please communicate to friends, family, health care providers, employers and the community your support for feeding the natural way — breastfeeding. For more information about the Aroostook Breastfeeding Coalition contact Gail Sirois at 444-5973 or visit them on Facebook!
Reegan Brown, Healthy Aroostook/ACAP
