MCHD observes World Breastfeeding Week

August 1, 2022

MCHD observes World Breastfeeding Week

MOBILE, Ala. — World Breastfeeding Week 2022 (#WBW2022) is being observed August 1-7. This year’s theme focuses on protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding across different levels of society.

Breastmilk is the perfect nutrition for infants and breastfeeding promotes bonding between mother and child. It also provides food security to infants from the very beginning of life, contributing to food security for the whole family.

The Mobile County Health Department will celebrate breastfeeding moms on August 5 at Langan Municipal Park from 10 a.m. to noon. The event is open to all pregnant and breastfeeding moms and their families. We look forward to celebrating you! Our Women, Infants & Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition team and our WIC Peer Counseling Program will be present. For information, contact lactation consultant Meridith Gardner at 251-690-8986.

Support is crucial in a mother’s success in breastfeeding. Women need support from their health care providers, workplace, and community to optimally breastfeed. This is called the Warm Chain of Support for Breastfeeding. There is an urgent need for education to improve and increase the capacity of all the who work along the Warm Chain. The need is especially urgent in the midst of a nation-wide formula shortage.

The Mobile County Health Department’s Office of Nutrition Services manages the local WIC program. A monthly average of 11,272 participants received WIC food instruments during the Fiscal Year 2021.

To qualify for WIC, a person must meet the income guidelines, be a resident of Alabama, and have been seen by a nutritionist at the WIC clinic. For more information, visit https://mchd.org/wic or call 251-690-8829.