Improving Breastfeeding Outcomes Through Family Support by Heather Hamilton-Post
“W
IC was all I knew for help, but I didn’t qualify. I pushed through nursing, but I had mastitis six times. Looking back, I was definitely doing something wrong,” says Kala Hernandez, a breastfeeding mother in Idaho. “More knowledge of resources and easy access could have made life much easier.” Hernandez isn’t the first to experience hiccups in the breastfeeding relationship. For many women, breastfeeding support offers a crucial piece of puzzle that keeps breastfeeding relationships going. In her case, support could have prevented repeated illness, complications, and frustrations. But Hernandez wasn’t doing anything wrong–she was simply doing it alone. In Idaho, the CDC reports that 94.6 percent of infants are ever breastfed. By six months, this number drops to 63.4 percent, and by a year, 38.3 percent. The data tells us that parents understand the importance of breastfeeding early on, but as infants age, these numbers decrease. Many of these dyads represent instances of combination feeding, in which an infant is receiving breastmilk and formula in combination. Often, this isn’t the plan, but a necessity born of inadequate support given to the breastfeeding parent or lack of access to resources. Whether parents access support within a hospital, at a private practice, via a support group, or even in a virtual space, it is an essential part of building a breastfeeding relationship with the positive outcomes parents desire.
Plan to Attend!
Idaho Breastfeeding Summit - Nourishing Partnerships to Benefit Idaho Families June 24-25, 2021, JUMP (Jack’s Urban Meeting Place) - 1000 W. Myrtle Street, Boise
Two full days of IBC & National Speakers, Continuing Education for Nurses, IBCLC’s & Registered Dietitians and offering breastfeeding education to breastfeeding advocates. For more information and registration go to our website: Idahobreastfeeding.org 12 Wise Guide | 2021/2022 Edition
