LAS VEGAS - July 29, 2020 - With World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) scheduled for August 1-7, Las Vegas Urban League Nutrition Education Centers - WIC continues to do its part to educate Southern Nevada families on the numerous health benefits of breastfeeding.
WBW is a global campaign created to raise awareness and issue a call to action on themes related to breastfeeding. It is held every August 1-7 in commemoration of the 1990 Innocenti Declaration, which stated that all women should be enabled to practice exclusive breastfeeding, and all infants should be fed exclusively on breast milk up to 6 months and to continue breastfeeding up to 2 years, according to WHO, for optimal maternal and child nutrition.
"It is an honor and privilege to provide breastfeeding support and education that prepares our families for an incredible and rewarding journey with their new babies," Semaj Bruce, IBCLC Breastfeeding Program Coordinator at Las Vegas Urban League - WIC, said. "We want parents to know that they can call our offices or come by and get an appointment for breast-feeding consultation the same day 24/7 in real time. Additionally our breastfeeding team can be reached on our web site www.wiclv.org and our social media platforms, Facebook, (https://www.facebook.com/WICLVUL/) Instagram and Twitter."
Research shows that the introduction of colostrum, the first milk introduced to newborns the first 3-5 days, is concentrated with antibodies. It's like giving our newborns their first immune shot! Colostrum aka liquid gold is the perfect amount for newborns when fed frequently and it promote the developing gastrointestinal tract and immune system. When families breastfed, babies have fewer colds and ear infections, a baby's brain and immune system benefits from the nutrients in breast milk, breast milk is always the right temperature and breastfeeding builds a close bond between the mother, father and infant.
Besides educating parents on the benefits of mother's milk, Las Vegas Urban League - WIC's breastfeeding program provides essential information on a variety of breast pumps on the market, how to store breast milk in storage bags, how to acquire special-needs bottles and acquiring information on all the kinds of related feeding tools available.
"Skin-to-skin contact helps a baby and father bond by reducing stress levels and regulating heart beats and body temperature," Bruce said.
The Las Vegas Urban League Nutrition Education Centers Women, Infants and Children Program are a 501c (3) program that is funded by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health.
For more information, visit the Urban League WIC website at: www.wiclv.org or their two convenient locations: 6480 W. Flamingo Road, Suite B, Las Vegas, phone (702) 227-1573 or 3320 E. Flamingo Road, Suite 50, Las Vegas, phone (702) 476-9561.
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