Breastfeeding Awareness Month Highlights Support Available for Local Families

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and local health professionals are reminding families that support is available before, during and after the birth of a child.

Kim Schmitz and Michelle Langemeyer with Auglaize County WIC joined Olivia Stachler and Sam Uhlenhake, lactation consultants with Grand Lake Health System and Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, for a recent edition of Spectrum.

The guests discussed the health benefits breastfeeding can provide for both mothers and babies. Breastfed infants may experience lower rates of sudden infant death syndrome, ear infections and respiratory infections. Mothers may also see a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes and certain cancers, along with a quicker postpartum recovery.

Stachler and Uhlenhake said lactation consultants help families with latching, milk supply, feeding discomfort, pumping and other concerns. Their goal is to support each family without judgment, whether the parent chooses exclusive breastfeeding, pumping, combination feeding or formula.

Joint Township offers breastfeeding education before delivery, one-on-one assistance following birth and outpatient lactation appointments after families return home. Those visits may include a weighted feeding, which allows consultants to determine how much milk the baby received.

The group also emphasized that breastfeeding is natural, but it is still a learned skill for both the mother and baby. Newborns generally feed eight to 12 times each day, and parents are encouraged to watch for early hunger cues such as rooting, hand-to-mouth movements and increased alertness. Crying is considered a late hunger cue and can make latching more difficult.

Auglaize County WIC provides breastfeeding support, pump supplies and additional food benefits for qualifying mothers. Assistance and referrals may also be available to families who are not enrolled in WIC.

The guests also encouraged employers to provide private, sanitary spaces for employees who need to pump after returning to work. They said supporting breastfeeding employees can improve attendance and reduce health-related costs by helping mothers and babies remain healthier.