August is National Breastfeeding Month
EFFINGHAM— HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital recognizes National Breastfeeding Month in August by sharing information about breast milk benefits and the positive bonding experience between mother and baby.
Ashley Harmon, manager of women and infant services at St. Anthony’s, says a mother’s milk provides a newborn with vital antibodies and an immunity boost as the infant grows. “Breastfeeding, whether by the breast or pumping breast milk, is important to an infant as it provides protection against many short- and long-term illnesses, while also giving mom and baby important bonding time,” she explained.
Breastfeeding Benefits
- Breast milk fights disease. The cells, hormones, and antibodies in breast milk protect babies from illness such as ear infections, asthma, type 1 diabetes and gastrointestinal infections, among others.
- Breast milk is easier to digest. For most babies, especially premature babies, breast milk is easier to digest than formula. The proteins in formula are made from cow’s milk and it takes time for babies’ stomachs to adjust to digesting them.
- Breast milk is often called liquid gold. Colostrum, often referred to as ‘liquid gold’, is the thick yellow breast milk that mothers make during pregnancy and just after birth. This milk is rich in nutrients and antibodies to protect baby. Although baby only gets a small amount of colostrum at each feeding, it matches the amount his or her stomach can hold.
- Breast milk changes as baby grows. Colostrum changes into what is called mature milk. By the third to fifth day after birth, this mature breast milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein to help a baby continue to grow. It is a thinner type of milk than colostrum, but it provides all the nutrients and antibodies a baby needs.
- Breastfeeding is beneficial to mothers as well. Mothers who breastfeed tend to recover from childbirth faster and are at a lower risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about six months, and then continuing breastfeeding while introducing soft foods until a child is 24 months or older.
Breastfeeding Support
For mothers needing additional support to be successful in their breastfeeding journey, HSHS St. Anthony’s offers breastfeeding classes in the evening once a month. To check for upcoming dates and register for the class, visit stanthonyshospital.org/events.
For mothers who cannot or chose not to breastfeed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends feeding an infant formula that is specifically made for babies and is iron-fortified, which means vitamins and minerals are added. The CDC does not recommend using homemade infant formula; a baby’s nutritional needs are very specific and may not be met with the use of a homemade formula recipe.
As always, if you have concerns or questions about breastfeeding or formula feeding, talk with your doctor or pediatrician.
For more information about HSHS St. Anthony’s women and infant services, visit stanthonyshospital.org/baby.
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About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high-quality Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our physician practices and 15 local hospitals in two states – Illinois (Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Shelbyville and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.