By: Lisle Cole, WIC Nutrition Assistant, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

During August we recognize National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and the theme this year focuses on “Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a Difference for working parents.” The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services campaign for the benefits, awareness, and support of breastfeeding. Research has proven that breast milk is the most ideal nourishment that babies can receive. Babies who receive breast milk have healthy outcomes. Parents who receive positive messages and support for their choice to breastfeed can thrive and build more confidence in caring for their families. This support is encouraging and often helps to increase the amount of time they continue to breastfeed their babies.

Human breast milk helps to protect a baby’s immune system from many infections and assists with overall health, development, and growth. Mary’s Center Women’s, Infants and Children’s Program (WIC) is one of many community organizations that provide participants with breastfeeding information and support services such as Breastfeeding Peer Counselors, breastfeeding classes called Beautiful Beginnings Club, access to a 24-hour lactation line through the Pacify Application, and referrals to other health care or social services. Through the collective support of the community, family members, workplaces, healthcare, and childcare providers parents can receive helpful support to successfully breastfeed their babies. Many parents need to return to work after their babies are born and the support of employers is important in so many ways including providing a private place and break time to express milk, flexible schedules for parents, and health or childcare benefits. There are also fair labor laws such as the Pump for Nursing Mother’s Act of 2022, which were passed to protect nursing mothers who express milk for their babies when returning to work.  Working parents who receive breastfeeding support benefit with healthy outcomes for their families, less stress, and longer retention with their employment. For additional information contact the WIC Program at (202) 232-6679.