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| Image: Aurimas Mikalauskas |
The Independent
Every year, the first week in August is set aside as World Breastfeeding Week to raise awareness and support for the benefits of breastfeeding and breastmilk. This Saturday, Aug. 1, at 10:30 a.m., thousands of breastfeeding women and their infants will gather in their own communities around the world to support breastfeeding and participate in the Global Big Latch On event.
Dixie Regional Medical Center will be hosting a Global Big Latch On event on Saturday in the LiVe Well Theater located in the Dixie Regional Health and Performance Building at 652 S. Medical Center Drive. All breastfeeding women and their babies are invited to attend and show their support. Participants are asked to check-in and register at 10 a.m. and be ready to latch on at 10:30 a.m.
The first Big Latch On took place in New Zealand in 2005. The event was introduced in the United States in 2010. Since then it has taken off globally. This year, the goal is to break the 2014 records for the number of countries participating (31) and the number of breastfeeding women attending (14,173).
“The benefits of breastmilk for newborns are immeasurable,” stated Kerry Ann Humphrey, OTR/L, and Lactation Specialist at DRMC. “It is amazing what breastmilk provides. I work with babies in the NICU, and we have found that feeding preemies breastmilk prevents infections. Breastmilk is vitally important to all babies and is ideal for a newborn’s first six months.”
Breastmilk contributes to normal growth and development in babies. Breastfeeding also has benefits for mothers. Breastfeeding helps prevent premenopausal breast and ovarian cancers and also helps moms get back to their pre-pregnancy weight faster.
Infants who are fed breastmilk exclusively have a lower risk for infant morbidity and mortality, adult obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of a baby’s life to optimize these benefits.
“Many women choose to pump their own breastmilk and put it into bottles,” reported Humphrey. “All the benefits of breastmilk are then in the convenience of a bottle. This can be a great option for mothers who work outside the home.”
Pumped breastmilk can also be donated. DRMC has a Milk Depot that collects breastmilk donations and then ships them to Denver to be pasteurized and distributed to NICUs across the country. The DRMC Milk Depot is always looking for qualified breastmilk donors. (Please contact 435-688-5440 for more information.)
“Breastfeeding is not always easy,” said Humphrey. “It is natural, but also a huge learning process for both mother and baby, and each baby is different and learns at their own pace. Breastfeeding takes practice, persistence, and patience. Events such as the Global Big Latch On encourage women to breastfeed and support each other.”
World Breastfeeding Week was established to help communities and work places positively support breastfeeding and raise awareness of the local breastfeeding support available. Women who choose to breastfeed should also know that outpatient lactation services are available at DRMC. Personal electric breast pumps are also available. Breastfeeding consultations and breast pumps are usually covered by most insurance plans.
“Please join us Saturday morning, August 1,” said Humphrey. “Come and show your support of choosing to be a breastfeeding mom at our local Global Big Latch On event.”
