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		NEWS RELEASE
		Thursday, July 30, 2009 Contact: Bureau of Media & Communications; (225) 342-1532

Yields benefits every day, and can be a “vital emergency response”

BATON ROUGE–Organizations around the state, the nation and the world are joining together to help raise awareness of the health and health emergency benefits of breastfeeding during World Breastfeeding Week 2009, August 1-7. Celebrated in more than 120 countries, World Breastfeeding Week is the largest outreach vehicle for those concerned with the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding worldwide.

Breastfeeding offers mothers a clean, safe and sustainable food and water supply for their infants that is the right temperature and can help protect babies from illness and infection every day. Because breast milk can also be essential for some mothers and babies during a disaster, the theme of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week is “Breastfeeding-A Vital Emergency Response. Are you ready?”

Human milk is the cleanest, safest food for an infant in an emergency or disaster, such as a hurricane, flood or flu pandemic, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Water for mixing formula and sterilizing bottles or bottle nipples may not be available, or could be contaminated. Formula does not offer the same immune protection as breast milk, making non-breastfed infants more vulnerable to the infections that often occur after disasters. Likewise, opened or prepared formula cannot be refrigerated if a power outage occurs.  

“We always encourage citizens to prepare for any possible emergency. Because nursing an infant is recommended until as late as a child’s second birthday, breastfeeding is one of the best emergency preparedness measures a new mother can take,” said Assistant Secretary for the Office of Public Health Rony Francois, M.D., M.S.P.H., Ph.D.

 “Breastfeeding is also beneficial for mothers by burning extra calories during production of breast milk, which can help women lose their pregnancy weight. Breastfeeding can also lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancers,” Dr. Francois said “Certainly, some women are unable to breastfeed, or have chosen not to after discussion with their health care providers. However, because the benefits can be so great, we do encourage new mothers to seriously discuss breastfeeding with their doctor.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2004 in Louisiana, only about 19 percent of women breastfed their babies six months after birth as compared to almost 42 percent nationally.

To improve breastfeeding rates and support for mothers in Louisiana, several important initiatives are underway.

•             The GIFT (Guided Infant Feeding Techniques) is a breastfeeding certification program that encourages and supports Louisiana hospitals in creating breastfeeding-friendly environments.  The GIFT is a joint effort between the Louisiana Maternal and Child Health Coalition, the Louisiana Perinatal Commission and the Office of Public Health-Maternal and Child Health Program.  There are currently eleven “GIFT Certified” birthing facilities in the state.

•             The Louisiana Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC), continues to provide breastfeeding education and support to its participants and the community through different channels.  Designated Breastfeeding Coordinators, nurses, nutritionists, health educators, nutrition educators and the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program counsel moms on how to make different breastfeeding strategies work for them.

•             WIC clinics also provide breast pumps to mothers needing assistance with breastfeeding due to premature and hospitalized infants, other medical or breastfeeding problems and the need to return to school or work yet still choosing to provide breast milk for their infant.

•             WIC also partners with breastfeeding entities, such as the Louisiana Breastfeeding Coalition, the Maternal Child Health Coalition, the Louisiana Lactation Consultant Association, the Greater New Orleans Breastfeeding Awareness Coalition, and the Central Louisiana Breastfeeding Coalition, to recruit local businesses statewide to become breastfeeding-friendly worksites. 

For more information about breastfeeding concerns, or to get referrals to breastfeeding support organizations, contact the Partners for Healthy Babies Helpline, 1-800-251-BABY (2229), or online at www.1800251baby.org.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals serves to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about DHH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov.

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