As part of National Breastfeeding Awareness month, Mower County Health and Human Services’ Women, Infants and Children program is working with moms to provide support.

Because of the importance of breastfeeding, WIC programs across Minnesota are working to promote it. Mower County Health and Human Services WIC promotes breastfeeding by:

—Providing breastfeeding support for WIC participants at appointments

—Supporting breastfeeding with others in the community

—Offering breastfeeding support at visits provided through other Mower County Health and Human Services family health programs

“We are pleased to offer this support for babies, mothers, and their families,” said Julie Stevermer, director of Mower County Health and Human Services.

Lisa Kocer, community health services manager it’s important to provide this information to mothers to get them started.

“For example, when women and families understand that their newborn needs a very small amount of their first milk, a teaspoon or less, they recognize that this important first milk is made in just the right amount and they are less likely to supplement,” Kocer said. “Providing only breast milk is important for infant health and for making more milk.”

Healthy People 2020, a set of national health goals from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, include several breastfeeding measures. Goals include initiation of breast feeding, increasing exclusive breast feeding and increasing duration of breast feeding. Exclusive and longer-term breast feeding promotes the best health outcomes, the release says.

For more information, contact the WIC office at 507-437-9799.