The Voice of Southwest Louisiana August 2018 Issue
The Voice of Southwest Louisiana News Magazine August 2018
The Voice of Southwest Louisiana News Magazine August 2018
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SWLA health, wealth & wellness Inform, Educate, Empower<br />
Mommy's Milk<br />
By Emily Ashworth RN, BSN<br />
<strong>The</strong> benefits <strong>of</strong> breastfeeding far outweigh the myths that are<br />
associated with this method <strong>of</strong> feeding our babies. Infants<br />
who are breastfed have lower risk <strong>of</strong> asthma, ear infections,<br />
diabetes, and many other chronic diseases. Breastfeeding<br />
mothers have lower risk <strong>of</strong> breast and ovarian cancer, heart<br />
disease, and type 2 diabetes.<br />
Day by day, we go through life<br />
talking with our children and<br />
to them; sometimes not giving<br />
thought to how remarkable they are.<br />
I remember 14 years ago, the first<br />
moment we were told I was expecting.<br />
I was in disbelief! I touched my belly,<br />
looked at my husband and sat in the<br />
doctor’s <strong>of</strong>fice as I wrapped my mind<br />
around what we had just been told.<br />
According to the National Institute<br />
<strong>of</strong> Health, pregnancy is defined as<br />
a fetus (the baby) developing over<br />
a 9-month period in the womb <strong>of</strong> a<br />
woman. During pregnancy God has<br />
so fearfully and wonderfully created a<br />
woman's body to sustain life that grows<br />
within, and it is remarkable how her<br />
breasts prepare to feed the baby once it<br />
is born.<br />
Breastfeeding is a phenomenal<br />
source <strong>of</strong> nutrition for the baby<br />
as it grows and develops over the<br />
next year. Though breastfeeding has<br />
increased across the country there are<br />
still racial disparities and a decline in<br />
breastfeeding in the black community.<br />
Thirty-four states have reported<br />
lower rates <strong>of</strong> breastfeeding<br />
initiation among the black<br />
community. Financial stress, lack <strong>of</strong><br />
medical support and<br />
access to care are<br />
reasons listed by the<br />
CDC for decreased<br />
participation. Is<br />
the decrease in<br />
black breastfeeding<br />
mothers also due to<br />
a lack <strong>of</strong> knowledge<br />
about the benefits <strong>of</strong><br />
breastfeeding or fear <strong>of</strong> the unknown?<br />
A deeper understanding <strong>of</strong> this is<br />
necessary to help decrease racial<br />
disparities to increase the number <strong>of</strong><br />
breastfeeding mothers.<br />
Breastfeeding our children was<br />
one <strong>of</strong> my greatest joys and one <strong>of</strong><br />
the most beautiful miracles next<br />
to childbirth. As our children grew I<br />
witnessed the color and consistency <strong>of</strong><br />
my breast milk change. My body knew<br />
what they needed and how to nourish<br />
them to grow healthy and strong. I<br />
encourage you to view the websites<br />
listed below for more information on<br />
breastfeeding.<br />
I pray your knowledge <strong>of</strong> the benefits<br />
<strong>of</strong> breastfeeding increases and be<br />
enhanced!<br />
~Be well! ~<br />
REFERENCES<br />
https://www.cdc.gov/<br />
breastfeeding/aboutbreastfeeding/why-itmatters.html<br />
https://www.cdc.gov/<br />
breastfeeding/resources/<br />
us-breastfeeding-rates.<br />
html<br />
https://www.nichd.<br />
nih.gov/health/topics/<br />
pregnancy<br />
https://www.babycenter.<br />
com/0_making-breastmilk-how-your-bodyproduces-natures-perfectba_8785.bc<br />
Volume 6 • Number 1 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM <strong>August</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 7
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