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"Breast-fed babies are healthier babies and smarter babies," said
Adams, "So, it makes sense to promote breast-feeding and educate new
mothers about the important health benefits for their babies." The
breast-feeding rate for all women in Illinois is 64 percent, lower
than the national average of 70 percent, reinforcing the need to
promote and educate mothers about the benefits of breast-feeding.
Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich proclaimed August as Breastfeeding
Promotion Month in Illinois. The state continues to promote
breast-feeding through local WIC programs, health departments and
breast-feeding coalitions. The proclamation declaring Breastfeeding
Promotion Month says that the Illinois Department of Human Services
will collaborate with local groups to protect, support and motivate
women to continue to breast-feed exclusively for six months and
beyond, in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics
guidelines.
The proclamation explains that breast-feeding benefits infants,
mothers and society through lower health care costs, a healthier
work force, stronger family bonds and less waste.
Mother's milk provides optimal nutrition for infant growth and
development, protects against infections and allergies, reduces the
risk of later obesity and diabetes, and enhances cognitive
development.
The Department of Human Services believes breast-feeding is an
important part of preventive health care, providing nursing mothers
with short- and long-term benefits, including decreased risk of
osteoporosis and breast, cervical and ovarian cancers, and reducing
the risk for long-term obesity.
The department will continue to establish links between maternity
facilities and community breast-feeding support networks to ensure
that all families will live, work and receive health care in a
culture that is supportive of breast-feeding.
A global program, the
Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, encourages and recognizes
hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care
for breast-feeding. There are only 54 U.S. facilities on the
program's list of Baby-Friendly Hospitals, with two in Illinois: St.
John's Hospital in Springfield and Pekin Hospital in Pekin.
"As scientific research continues to not only support the medical
benefits of breast-feeding, but also discover new benefits,
breast-feeding support in Illinois remains vital," said Barbara
O'Connor, R.N., B.S.N., IBCLC, breast-feeding educator and co-author
of "Maternal and Infant Assessment of Breastfeeding and Human
Lactation."
"Although the number of women in Illinois who initiate
breast-feeding has increased over the past decade, the number who
continue to breast-feed for any substantial length of time remains
low, especially among the socioeconomically disadvantaged and the
African-American women," O'Connor said. "It is therefore essential
that the state of Illinois continue to support legislation that
protects the rights of women and infants to breast-feed, that all
hospitals in Illinois become Baby-Friendly Hospitals, and that
programs offering breast-feeding support and education continue to
be created and funded in this state."
The State Breastfeeding Task Force, organized in 1987, continues
its mission to make breast-feeding the cultural norm in Illinois,
thereby enabling breast-feeding and improving the health of Illinois
mothers and babies.
Breast-fed children are half as likely to have any illnesses
within the first year as formula-fed children and are 10 times less
likely to be hospitalized for any bacterial infection. Research
shows that breast-feeding decreases the incidence and severity of
otitis media or ear infections, diarrhea, and respiratory tract
infections. In the U.S., ear infections alone cost more than $1
billion annually in visits to physicians.
Numerous studies of breast-feeding have found a protective effect
against sudden infant death syndrome, diabetes mellitus, Crohn's
disease, lymphoma, allergic diseases and other chronic digestive
diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control "Guide to
Breastfeeding Interventions." Newer studies show breast-fed children
are smarter and less likely to wet the bed.
In 2004, Blagojevich signed the Right to Breastfeed Act, allowing
women to nurse in public or private without fear of being asked to
leave.
In 2005, the governor and Department of Human Services expanded
the breast-feeding peer counselor program. Thirty-five peer
counselor programs provide enhanced breast-feeding promotion and
support services to breast-feeding women throughout Illinois.
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 "Seeing increased breast-feeding rates among WIC mothers is
gratifying and will lead to the improved health of these mothers and
children," said Dr. Victoria Nichols-Johnson, associate professor of
obstetrics and gynecology at Southern Illinois University School of
Medicine in Springfield. "It is another aspect of the promotion of
breast-feeding on a national and state level, which enables women
and children of all economic levels to benefit. It is hoped that
increased breast-feeding rates among the WIC participants will help
decrease the perinatal mortality rate among babies born to
low-income families, as well."
Nichols-Johnson, who is a founding member and past president of
the national Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, hopes progress will
continue. "As we approach the Healthy People 2010 national health
promotion and disease prevention initiative goal of 75 percent of
mothers initiating breast-feeding in the hospital, our next efforts
need to be directed toward the Healthy People 2010 goal of 50
percent still breast-feeding at six months. This will happen when
breast-feeding mothers are given more support in the workplace and
at school. Illinois' Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act is a good
start." The law authorizes unpaid breaks and a private space for new
mothers to pump breast milk.
August 2006 Breastfeeding Promotion Month activities
Coordinated in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services
Aug. 1, 2-4 p.m. -- Joliet: Celebration and breast-feeding peer
counselor graduation, Silver Cross Hospital.
Aug. 2, noon -- Rock Island: Luncheon celebrating World
Breastfeeding Week. Sponsored by the Rock Island Health Department
for WIC pregnant and breast-feeding women.
Aug. 2, 2-4 p.m. -- Near North Chicago: Mother's Day in August, a
celebration honoring breast-feeding moms and babies. Breast-feeding
moms will get certificates and speak on breast-feeding. Khomed/Holman
Health Center, 4259 S. Berkeley, Chicago.
Aug. 3, 1-3 p.m. -- Near North Chicago: Mother's Day in August, a
celebration honoring breast-feeding moms and babies. Breast-feeding
moms will get certificates and speak on breast-feeding. Winfield
Moody Healthy Center, 1276 N. Clybourn, Chicago.
Aug. 5, 10:15 a.m. walk -- Springfield: 11th annual World
Breastfeeding Week "Walk at the Zoo," Henson Robinson Zoo. This
year's theme was "Protect Breastfeeding."
Aug. 7-12 -- Belleville: Nursing Nook at the St. Clair County
Fair.
Aug. 11-20, Springfield: Baby Cafe in Conservation World at
Illinois State Fair. Sponsored by the West Central Breastfeeding
Task Force.
Aug. 22, 4 p.m. -- Zion, Lake County: Fourth annual Breastfeeding
Mothers Tea. Networking, sharing, supporting, food and raffle prizes
will be provided. Clients will speak and share their experiences.
Open to all pregnant and breast-feeding women.
Aug. 23, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. -- BMB, Lake County: Fourth annual
Breastfeeding Mothers Tea. Networking, sharing, supporting, food and
raffle prizes will be provided. Clients will speak and share their
experiences. Open to all pregnant and breast-feeding women.
Aug. 25, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. -- Chicago: Breastfeeding celebration and
walk, Chicago Department of Health and Chicago Region Breastfeeding
Task Force, Chicago.
Aug. 26-Sept. 4 -- DuQuoin: Mobile nursery at the DuQuoin State
Fair. Sponsored by the Southern Breastfeeding Task Force.
Aug. 30, 4 p.m. -- North Shore, Lake County: Fourth annual
Breastfeeding Mothers Tea. Networking, sharing, supporting, food and
raffle prizes will be provided. Clients will speak and share their
experiences. Open to all pregnant and breast-feeding women.
Aug. 30, 11 a.m. -- Midlakes, Lake County: Fourth annual
Breastfeeding Mothers Tea. Networking, sharing, supporting, food and
raffle prizes will be provided. Clients will speak and share their
experiences. Open to all pregnant and breast-feeding women.
Aug. 31, 2 p.m. -- North Chicago, Lake County: Fourth annual
Breastfeeding Mothers Tea. Networking, sharing, supporting, food and
raffle prizes will be provided. Clients will speak and share their
experiences. Open to all pregnant and breast-feeding women.
[Illinois
Department of Human Services news release]
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