August is National Breastfeeding Month, a chance to spread awareness about the health, nutritional, economical, and emotional benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby.

With respect to known health benefits, breastfeeding can help lower babies’ risk of asthma, obesity, diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breastfed babies are also less likely to have ear infections and stomach bugs, and moms who breastfeed have a lower risk for certain breast and ovarian cancers as well as type 2 diabetes.

Rates of breastfeeding have increased over the past several decades, which is great news! Women are more likely to breastfeed if it is the norm in their family and in their community. Even so, new moms can find breastfeeding to be harder than expected.  It is important that we support breastfeeding whenever possible.

To help increase the rates of breastfeeding locally, Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District (RCAHD) staff, including our nurses and our Women, Infants and Children (WIC) staff are trained to help support breastfeeding. RCAHD provides services that are largely directed at preventing health problems in high-risk populations. Assessment, coordination of care, health education, and referral to appropriate community resources are key components of the services.

In addition to direct support for new moms, other local programs to improve maternal and child health include:

• Tracking growth and developmental milestones
• Discussing any concerns about your child’s health
• Getting scheduled vaccinations to prevent illnesses like measles and whooping cough
  (pertussis) and other serious diseases

Finally, our Population Health team recently started working with community partners to address teen pregnancy and help local teens stay safe, particularly in communities that have high rates of teen pregnancy. The goal is to work together to identify and address underlying factors that impact teen pregnancy in our community. Compared to older parents, adolescent parents are
less likely to complete high school and more likely to have low income as adults. As a result, they are more likely to have children who face educational, behavioral, and health outcomes challenges.

Our children are our future- protecting the health of mothers and children protects the health of the next generation. Learn more about maternal and child health on our website at vdh.virginia.gov/roanoke or call us at 540-613-6597.