2007 World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7

Research is clear that breastfeeding is optimal nutrition and the perfect, life-sustaining food for babies. Breastfeeding provides nutritional and health advantages that last far beyond infancy, and offers health benefits for mothers, as well. Nearly all women are able to breastfeed when they receive consistent and accurate information, and are supported by the healthcare team, family, and community in an environment that is breastfeeding-friendly.

Highlighting the importance of protecting breastfeeding, especially in the first hour after birth, is the theme for the 2007 World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, Breastfeeding: The 1st Hour – Welcome Baby Softly. The theme celebrates the importance of early closeness between mother and baby in the first hour or two after birth, and calls on health professionals to establish a welcoming environment that greets babies softly.

Breastfeeding in the first hour or so after birth has been linked to positive health outcomes, including immediate protection from bacteria and viruses the baby is exposed to, less risk of jaundice, and improved milk production and less blood loss in the mother. One study published in Pediatrics in 2006 found that these health outcomes are so important that 41% of infants worldwide who die between 2-28 days of life could be saved by this simple intervention of breastfeeding in the first hour.

According to Rebecca Mannel, president of the International Lactation Consultant Association, infants are born with heightened senses that seem to program them to quickly get to know their mothers and find the breast, often attaching by themselves when left undisturbed on their mothers’ chest. “In the early moments after birth, babies are in a quiet, alert state and ready to learn,” says Mannel. “Babies use all five senses to explore that world. They use their eyes to memorize their mothers’ faces, their ears to associate her voice with her face, and their sense of smell to guide them in finding the breast. Their sense of taste is also at a heightened state, and they are particularly drawn to the flavor of breast milk.”

Babies’ sense of touch helps this process work effectively, says Mannel. “Research shows that babies come into this world seeking close contact with their mother’s body,” she says. “When mothers hold their babies skin-to-skin immediately after birth, their babies are kept warm, they regulate their heart, respiratory, and oxygen saturation rates, and they do not feel pain as acutely. All of this means they are calmer, happier, and cry less.”

ILCA also encourages hospitals to establish a breastfeeding-friendly environment by following “The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” outlined by the global Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, and to establish “Baby Friendly” status as a goal for their facility. This coveted designation recognizes hospitals that have created an environment that supports and protects breastfeeding.

Likewise, individual clinics and community locations can establish a breastfeeding-friendly atmosphere through such things as providing places for women to breastfeed or express their milk if they desire privacy, encouraging mothers to breastfeed, and making appropriate referrals for assistance when needed.

The International Lactation Consultant Association provides numerous resources to help, including a “Find a Lactation Consultant Directory” that helps new mothers access International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) in their community. “International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are able to help families throughout the many months that mother and baby are breastfeeding,” says Mannel. “IBCLCs have specialized knowledge of breastfeeding and child development. They can help mothers understand how to get off to a good start with breastfeeding, and work together to find solutions when questions arise. IBCLCs can provide information and reassurance, and help mothers feel confident in reaching their breastfeeding goals.”

In celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, Babies in Bloom is hosting an art show of breastfeeding portraiture by Kris Anne Nieder of San Diego Family Photography. The exhibit will be on display at Babies in Bloom through August 7th, with a "Meet the Artist" reception Saturday, August 4th from 12:00 - 4:00 pm.

For more information about IBCLCs, visit the ILCA website at www.ilca.org. To learn more about World Breastfeeding Week activities planned for the community, contact Rochelle McLean, IBCLC, CCE at 760-940-2229 or Rochelle@babies-in-bloom.com