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World Breastfeeding Week

By Deanna Krautner

July 31, 2015

World Breastfeeding Week 

NEW PORT RICHEY – The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County (DOH-Pasco) celebrates August 1-7 as World Breastfeeding Week. This year’s theme Breastfeeding and Work: Let’s Make it Work! calls for action to support women to combine breastfeeding and work.

“One of the most effective preventive measures a mother can take to protect the health of her infant is to breastfeed.” Said Mike Napier, County Health Officer.  “As we work with community partners to address infant deaths in Pasco and other issues like childhood obesity, efforts to increase the number of infants who are breastfed can help.”

According to Florida CHARTs, in 2014 80% of news moms in Pasco initiated breastfeeding compared to the state rate of 84%.  According to the CDC, babies who are fed formula and stop breastfeeding early have higher risks of obesity, diabetes, respiratory and ear infections, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and tend to require more doctor visits, hospitalizations, and prescriptions. In moms, breastfeeding is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and postpartum depression.

DOH-Pasco provides assistance and support to new moms.  Free Breastfeeding classes are being offered at WIC (Women, Infants and Children) clinics throughout the county.  Classes include topics such as starting out right, safe storage and return to work support. For more information about these classes in Pasco County, call 1-877-942-2329.

DOH-Pasco will also host World Breastfeeding Week Celebrations with community partners throughout the month of August at clinic sites across the county.  At each event, there will be information about breastfeeding and working, clients will be speaking about their experiences with working and breastfeeding, and we will highlight WIC’s breastfeeding support, including our breast pump loaner program.  Celebrations will take place from 10 AM to 12 PM on the following dates at the noted clinic sites: 

  • August 5 – Hudson with Family      Nutrition Program, Early Learning Coalition, and Career Source
  • August 10 – Main Street, New      Port Richey with Family Nutrition Program, Early Learning Coalition, and      Career Source
  • August 12 - Dade City with      Family Nutrition Program, Early Learning Coalition, Career Source, Tampa      Bay Baby Wearing, and Family Health Services
  • August 20 – Zephyrhills with      Family Nutrition Program, Early Learning Coalition, Career Source, Tampa      bay baby wearing, and Premier Community Healthcare
  • August 25 - Land O’Lakes with      Family Nutrition Program, Early Learning Coalition, and Career Source

For more information, please contact Andrea Smith 813-404-5628.

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