By: Marsha Graves, Program Administrator, Women, Infant & Children’s (WIC) Program

The mission of public health is to reduce health disparities and level the playing field for all to be healthy and well.  And this starts with infancy.

We know that breastfeeding is more than a tradition handed down from generation to generation, but is a lifesaving technique.  Breast milk provides baby’s first immunizations, prevents infections and wards off illnesses, reduces infant mortality and increases the emotional bond between mother and child.

Encouraging breastfeeding isn’t just good for mother and child, it’s also good for our society!

In recognition of World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), recognized August 1st– August 7th, theBaltimore City Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program  this week joins with more than 170 countries to highlight the importance of breastfeeding as a healthy start in life.

On Tuesday, Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (through a proclamation) recognized four Baltimore businesses: Bais Yaakov Early Learning Center, City Neighbors High School, CRDN (a division of Schroedl Dry Cleaners), and L.I.F.E.  Inc.,  for their dedication to being a “Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace.”  These businesses were chosen because they have supported accommodations for women to breastfeed at work, including providing pumping space, clean refrigerator units for milk, and time for pumping.

And tomorrow, Friday, August 7, at 1:30 p.m., the Harford Road WIC clinic (5610 Harford Rd.) will be hosting a “learning” Baby Shower for WIC mothers and their families to promote and support breastfeeding in the communities.  The event includes remarks by Health Commissioner Dr. Wen, special guests, breastfeeding and infant care workshops, give-away items, learning games, prizes and raffles.

Research shows that there is no better food than breast milk for a baby’s first year of life.  Breastfeeding remains the optimal nutrition choice for infants and provides many health, nutritional, economical, and emotional benefits to both mother and baby.

Since a major goal of WIC is to improve the nutritional status of our clients, WIC mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their infants.   We support breastfeeding among our clients by providing counseling and educational materials, offering healthy food packages, and giving out breastfeeding aids, like breast pumps and nursing bras.

Our successful “Mom to Mom” support team consists of certified lactation staff, trained to provide counseling and one- on- one assistance to breastfeeding mothers.

Lactation staff are also very familiar with the resources available to WIC clients, understanding questions a new breastfeeding mother is likely to ask, and recognizing when to refer mothers to other resources during critical periods.

This year’s WBW theme, “Breastfeeding and Work; Let’s Make it Work!”  is a call to action to support and encourage women to combine breastfeeding and work.  In response to the need for employer support, Baltimore City has implemented a Workplace Lactation program to accommodate city employees who want to continue their breastfeeding efforts.  The program allows for employees to work with their supervisor to create a pumping schedule, provides comfortable accommodations, and access to breastfeeding education and support.

WIC joins with other voices to encourage employer support and reasonable accommodations of breastfeeding mothers in the work place. More women will start and continue breastfeeding longer if pumping accommodations are made available on the job.  Employees who have employer support tend to breastfeed longer; have good morale, and fewer absences.