Special to the Daily Times
October 10, 2008 10:44 am
—
Did you know that when you continue to provide breastmilk for your baby after returning to work, you provide protection not only to your baby but also to yourself?
This protection is so powerful that it lasts a lifetime. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics feels so strongly about the benefits of breast-feeding it issued this statement:
“Human milk is made for human babies. It provides all the optimal health requirements for growth, development, and general health. Breast milk will significantly decrease the risk for acquiring a number of acute and chronic diseases. Research studies have shown a possible protective effect of human milk feeding against sudden infant death syndrome, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, childhood cancer, allergic diseases, asthma and other chronic digestive diseases. It cannot be manufactured or duplicated in the lab.”
Moms who continue to breastfeed for one year receive many benefits including a reduced risk of ovarian cancer and pre-menopausal breast cancer. To learn more, visit www.mchservicesinc.com
Tell your Employer:
Moms who breast-feed their babies have fewer medical expenses and fewer missed days at work.
“If working mothers breast-feed their infants for 100 work days, 41percent of infants never get sick in their first year of life compared to 10 percent of formula-fed infants whose mothers experience more than twice as much absenteeism as do the breast-feeding mothers in the first year of the infant’s life.” (Source: Cohen R, Mrtek MB, Mrtek RG Comparison of Maternal Absenteeism and Infant Illness Rates… Am J Health Promotion 1995; 10: 148-153)
Less illness equals fewer insurance claims and lower group insurance premium costs for employers.
A supportive worksite boosts morale, enhances productivity and increases retention.
Returning to work means leaving baby behind, a baby that mom nurtured around the clock. Understandably, the separation is often stressful. Mothers can ease that stress by continuing to breastfeed while at home and providing breastmilk for the baby while apart. Employers supportive of breastfeeding mothers reap many rewards. Offering lactation programs and support in the workplace makes smart business sense.
We owe it to our communities to do all that we can to encourage and promote breast-feeding. It is the first step toward affordable healthcare – offering a lifetime of health protection to both mothers and babies. Visit our website, for the names of those who can offer additional help.
Visit www.babynetky.com.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.