Her Health: Setting Up A Bond That Lasts A Lifetime

HEALTH

Setting up A BOND that Lasts a Lifetime

BY ASHLEY PENLAND MS, RDN, LDN

The bond that mothers and daughters share is powerful. This is so true that many women say their most important relationship in life is with their mother. The Cardinal Mermillod’s proclamation, “A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take,” illustrates the strength of the mother-child relationship, be it a son or a daughter. Building a healthy connection with children is essential and one of the first bonding experiences a parent may choose can be within the first hour of life- through skin to skin contact and breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding gives the baby an introduction to his or her mother’s scent, voice, and presence up close from their first moments of life. Sentiment from this nearness comes with time and through touch. The breastfeeding mother and baby are even referred to as a mother-baby dyad, the term dyad referring to two individuals regarded as a pair, involved in an ongoing relationship. In addition to the bonding benefits, breastmilk provides ideal nutrition for the baby. It contains hundreds of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, and the antibodies that can enhance baby’s immune system helping them to stay healthier overall. Breastmilk is also easier to digest than formula so breastfed babies experience less gas, cholic, and spitting up.

Mothers may be unaware of the resources available to support breastfeeding within their community. The most specialized breastfeeding support is provided by a Registered Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). This person undergoes specialized training and certification to offer educational support and skills to the breastfeeding mother. Often Lactation Consultants are available in many hospitals shortly after baby’s birth to support mother’s feeding goals. A specialized program also exists through the local Women, Infants and Children (WIC) office to support expectant and new mothers: The Peer Counselor Program. Peer Counselors are WIC staff who are mothers that use their own breastfeeding experience and specific training to help and support breastfeeding women enrolled in the WIC Program. Peer Counselors are available to encourage new mothers to first take a deep breath, relax and then focus their attention on learning the skills to feed and nurture their baby. For more information about the Pitt County WIC or Breastfeeding Programs, contact (252) 902-2393 or (252) 902-2382 or contact your local WIC agency. Also, the first week of August is World Breastfeeding Week. So, keep an eye out for breastfeeding promotion and events that may be of interest to you!

The more breastmilk your baby receives, the greater the benefits! Professional health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of baby’s life. If a mother is unable to breastfeed exclusively, mother and baby still benefit from any amount of breastmilk provided and from the closeness of the bond it creates.

Stay hydrated and consider this fruity Grape Juice Spritzer during the hot month of August in Eastern Carolina! Of note, according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, it is recommended that 8-12 cups of water be consumed daily when pregnant or breastfeeding.

Ashley Penland is an Eastern Carolina native who studied nutrition and health promotion at Appalachian State University and Northern Illinois University. She has worked in clinical, food service and now in community nutrition as a Health Promotion Dietitian at the Pitt County Health Department. She also manages the WIC Peer Counselor Program and supports breastfeeding within Pitt County. During her down time, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé and dogs.

8 Her Magazine — August 2022 www.reflector.com/her