Volusia County, FL – According to a report from the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County (DOH-Volusia), the number of mothers breastfeeding their babies is growing, but it is still behind the state average.
The report, which you can access here, compiles and analyzes breastfeeding data from 2011 to 2015. The release of the report coincides with National Breastfeeding Month and the theme, Charting the Course Together, aims to connect breastfeeding with a wide variety of other health topics.
The report shows that in the last 3 years, the number of breastfeeding mothers in Volusia County grew nearly 3%. The DOH-Volusia report also broke down breastfeeding statistics among different races and found that Hispanic women breastfeeding in Volusia surpassed a national goal set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Black breastfeeding women were observed as having lower breastfeeding rates than Hispanic and white women. Women who use the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program were found to use supplemental nutrition more often than women who do not participate in WIC and were also found to be less likely to breastfeed before enrolling in the program. WIC encourages women to breastfeed and supports them by helping them access lactation counselors and free classes every month.
DOH-Volusia says that research shows breastfeeding reduces the likelihood of a baby developing infections, asthma, obesity and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) when compared to babies fed with supplemental nutrition. DOH-Volusia knows that in order to reach the goal of having mothers breastfeed for at least 6 months, they must provide mothers with support so they can learn how to breastfeed and so they can establish a supply of milk.
DOH-Volusia believes mothers need work policies that account for time needed to breastfeed, child-care facilities at or around work and private areas to breastfeed and store milk. WIC can provide mothers and pregnant women with a network of International Board-Certified individuals, peer counselors, mother-to-mother breastfeeding education and support.
One-time basic breastfeeding classes will be offered from 6 PM to 8 PM on:
Although reservations are not required, they are suggested. Individuals unable to make the night classes may attend a mini-session on Thursdays from 10 AM to 11 AM at 775 Harley, Strickland Blvd., Orange City. For more information on breastfeeding, call 866-WIC FOOD (942-3663) or visit here.
Photo courtesy of Oksana Kuzmina and Shutterstock.com.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
