Gwynedd supports Breastfeeding Awareness Week

Monday, 25 August 2008

As Wales has some of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in Western Europe, this week’s national Breastfeeding Awareness Week (11 – 17 May) aims to raise public awareness and highlight the benefits for both mother and baby.

The week-long campaign arranged by the Welsh Assembly Government, and supported in Gwynedd by the County’s Health Challenge Alliance with the aim of promoting the importance of breastfeeding.

Llinos Owen, Gwynedd Council’s Health and Wellbeing Coordinator and chair of the Gwynedd Breastfeeding Strategy Group said:

We aim as a group to raise public awareness of the health protections that breastfeeding gives babies, with more protection from gastro-enteritis, chest and ear infections, diabetes and allergies and other illnesses and also ensure support for those mothers who choose to breastfeed.

Our aim during the week is to celebrate the achievements of those mothers who have chosen to breastfeed their babies and to encourage more mothers to give their child the best possible start in life. Not only are babies who are fed on their mothers milk healthier, mothers too are less likely to suffer from breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

For further information about breastfeeding in Gwynedd, contact Llinos Owen Health and Well-being Facilitator on 01286 679065.

There are many benefits to breastfeeding. Even if you are able to do it for only a short time, your baby's immune system can benefit from breast milk. Here are many other benefits of breast milk for a mother, her baby, and others:

Benefits for the Baby:

• Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. A mother's milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby's growth and development. Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula.
• As a result, breastfed infants grow exactly the way they should. They tend to gain less unnecessary weight and to be leaner. This may result in being less overweight later in life.
• Premature babies do better when breastfed compared to premature babies who are fed formula.
• Breastfed babies score slightly higher on IQ tests, especially babies who were born pre-maturely.

Benefits for Mum:

• Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds of pregnancy. It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth.
• Breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding (no supplementing with formula), delays the return of normal ovulation and menstrual cycles. (However, you should still talk with your doctor or nurse about birth control choices.)
• Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and possibly the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause.
• Breastfeeding makes your life easier. It saves time and money. You do not have to purchase, measure, and mix formula. There are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night!
• A mother can give her baby immediate satisfaction by providing her breast milk when her baby is hungry.
• Breastfeeding requires a mother to take some quiet relaxed time for herself and her baby.
• Breastfeeding can help a mother to bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm and comforted.
• Breastfeeding mothers may have increased self-confidence and feelings of closeness and bonding with their infants.

Benefits for Society:

• Breastfeeding saves on health care costs. Total medical care costs for the nation are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants since breastfed infants typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations.
• Breastfeeding contributes to a more productive workforce. Breastfeeding mothers miss less work, as their infants are sick less often. Employer medical costs also are lower and employee productivity is higher.
• Breastfeeding is better for our environment because there is less trash and plastic waste compared to that produced by formula cans and bottle supplies.