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Date: October 2012
Contact: Scott Sherwood
For immediate release
Tel. 919-861-4543
Child Health
Day
The United States Lactation
Consultant Association (USLCA) joins the nation in celebrating Child Health Day
on Monday, October 1. For 90 years, the United States Health Resources and
Services Administration (HRSA) has set aside the first Monday in October to
focus the nation's attention on children's health. It is sobering to consider
that for the first time in history type two diabetes is emerging as a
significant chronic disease in children and childhood obesity continues its
upward trend.
Breastfeeding is the primary way
to promote optimal health for children. Breastfeeding offers varying degrees of
protection from obesity, diabetes, infections, some childhood cancers, and
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). An analysis of studies related to
breastfeeding and obesity found a 30% decrease in the odds of overweight for a
child breastfed for 9 months when compared with a child never breastfed.
Additionally, a study published in the journal Pediatrics found that the risk of
SIDS almost doubles in infants who are not breastfed. School performance is
important to children's health and well-being. Several studies have found that
breastfed children have higher IQs and do better in school from the early grades
through adolescence, even when parents' IQ and education and the child's living
conditions are taken into consideration.
According to the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention's 2012 Breastfeeding Report Card, breastfeeding
initiation is on the rise. This is good news. However the number of babies who
are exclusively breastfed for six months as recommended by the American Academy
of Pediatrics and other major health-related organizations remains low.
From the first prenatal
appointment, to the mother's return to school or work, and throughout the baby's
first year, breastfeeding must be promoted, protected, and supported until it
becomes the cultural norm. It is everyone's job to promote breastfeeding,
support mothers, and protect families. As Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin
says,"The time has come to set forth the important roles and responsibilities of
clinicians, employers, communities, researchers, and government leaders and to
urge us all to take on a commitment to enable mothers to meet their personal
goals for breastfeeding."
International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are health
care professionals with the expertise to help families at every step of the way.
IBCLCs teach breastfeeding classes, work in hospitals to help get mothers and
babies off to a good start, problem-solve in out-patient sites such as physician
offices, health centers, WIC sites and home care to help overcome breastfeeding
trials, and work with employers to facilitate a successful back-to-work
experience. IBCLCs help mothers achieve their breastfeeding goals and can help
meet national goals related to child health. For more information or to locate
an IBCLC, visit www.uslca.org
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