Child Development and Public Health

Breastfeeding is a topic of interest for me.  I have two children and I breastfed my daughter exclusively for 14 months and my son is 6 months old and he has only been breastfed.  Before I had children I was working in a Head Start program and I was probably the only worker there that did not have children.  I found it interesting that many of my co workers did not breastfeed their children.  I also found this intersting because many of my co workers live in poverty and would rather go buy formula than breastfeed their baby.  I believe that this is due to the lack of information/knowledge and resources that is given to them in the hospital.  Living in rural Alaska women fly out of their communities and into a central hub.  They wait (away from their home and families), deliver the baby and are sent home on a plane within three days of delivery.  When they get home there is a lack of medical services (In our rural communities there is not a doctor or a nurse.  Most communities have an entry level health aide.) let alone a laction consultant in the community. 

For many parents of the world and even in some parts of the United States there is a lack of food, formula is expensive and water is an issue (lack of water or not clean water).  Breastfeeding children could make a difference for the child and families.  It is a natural resource of food for families and could relieve some of the stressors that some families have. 

For my work with our families at our program we are already sharing this information on breastfeeding.  The benefits of breast feeding for both the baby, mother and family (especially if there are money concerns within the family).  When we were developing and designing our infant toddler classrooms we created spaces for mothers to come in and nurse their babies.  We also make sure to inform parents of this area when doing enrollment and giving tours of our centers. 

Benefits for Baby & Mother

• Lower incidence of certain viruses
• Lower incidence of respiratory illness
• Reduction in ear infections, meningitis
• National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences found that breastfed children have a 20 percent lower risk of dying between the ages of 28 days and 1 year
• The immune factors in breast milk guard against invading germs and result in a natural buildup in babies of protections against many forms of illness
• Breastfeeding may protect babies from developing allergies
• Research has demonstrated a connection between breastfeeding and cognitive development (greater intelligence)
• Recent studies show a strong link between breastfeeding and a lower incidence of obesity as a teen or adult.
• The longer women breastfeed, the greater the mother’s protection against breast and ovarian cancers.

http://www.voices.org/issues/childrens-health/call-to-action-on-breastfeeding/?gclid=CPnZjtD4xLkCFYZ_QgodD3EADQ