Delaware celebrates World Breastfeeding Week
The first state is far from number one when it comes to mother’s breastfeeding their children. Only four states have lower rates: Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi and West Virginia.
Fortunately, Delaware is taking steps to change this. The state held a conference Thursday to educate new mothers and to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week.
Hundreds of mothers and professionals gathered at the event in Dover to encourage and promote breastfeeding in Delaware.
“Right now we are just celebrating breast feeding, how far we’ve come, our strides we’ve made and our goals that we’re still reaching to achieve,” said Ida Lewis, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Health Program Coordinator.
When it comes to the number of babies nursed in their first year of life, Delaware ranks below the national average.
“So what we’re trying to do, even though Delaware has not reached the pinnacle of where we’d like to be, we have seen an increase in initiation and duration of breast feeding,” said Lewis.
Speakers at the conference said that most women can breastfeed, so it comes down to providing new mothers with adequate knowledge.
Nancy Hastings, a Lactation Program Coordinator, said, “I strongly encourage a mother who maybe makes a little bit of milk to keep breast feeding. Breast feeding is not always just about the baby getting the milk. It’s about the bonding, the closeness, the comfort, the touch and things like that the baby could still get.”
Professionals said breastfeeding is the best way for all mothers to keep their newborns healthy.
Lewis said, “A lot of research lets us know that breast fed babies are healthier, breast fed babies have a higher IQ, breast fed babies have less allergies. There’s just so much, that it levels the playing ground.”
For new mothers, breastfeeding can provide a peace of mind.
“For me, I know I can’t do everything. I can’t protect [my baby] from everything, but I think the things that I can – I have to do the best that I can,” said Amanda Cullen, a mother to a 3-week old girl.
4 out of 6 labor and delivery hospitals in Delaware have been recognized as “Baby Friendly,” meaning they provide the information and skills to support infant feeding and mother-baby bonding.
Those four hospitals are: Beebe Healthcare, Milford Memorial Hospital, Kent General Hospital and Christiana Care Health System.
Saint Francis Hospital is currently working towards getting a “Baby Friendly” designation.
