San Marcos WIC To Celebrate National Breastfeeding Month

Please join the WIC Clinic of San Marcos in celebration of National Breastfeeding Month on Aug. 4 at their “Breastfeeding Celebration: Walk the Red Carpet” at 401-C Broadway Street, San Marcos.  The event will be from 3-6 p.m. and is open to the entire San Marcos community. WIC participants will receive class credit for their attendance.  The event will include activities to teach expectant women, moms, family members, and the community the importance of breastfeeding, as well as provide information on how breastfeeding today will lead to a better tomorrow.

Every woman’s journey to motherhood is different, but one of the first decisions every new mom makes is how to feed her child. Initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life is a key factor for the survival and health of a newborn.

The newly published Lancet Breastfeeding Series review shows remarkable evidence on the health and economic benefits of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding improves the survival, health, and development of all children, saves women’s lives and contributes to human capital development across populations.

The benefits of breastfeeding are not limited to only infancy, but extend into childhood and even to adulthood. Breastfeeding moms make the perfect food for their babies and their milk programs their babies to be healthier, smarter, and more successful in life. Mothers who choose to breastfeed make an investment in their baby’s future.

Research shows those that were breastfed as infants scored higher on intelligence tests, and were found to have increased school performance and income earning in adulthood.

This year, Texas WIC will be celebrating National Breastfeeding Month with the theme – Breastfeed for a Healthier Future! The theme focuses on how breastfeeding today can impact and improve not only the present, but also the health of families and the environment for generations to come.

WIC provides assistance to pregnant women, women breastfeeding a baby less than one year of age, postpartum women (one who had a baby within the last six months), and infants and children up to age 5.

Services include nutrition education, breastfeeding support, supplemental foods, and referrals to other community resources. Households with incomes at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty income level are eligible to apply.

To find out more about the WIC program and eligibility requirements visit http://texaswic.org. For more information, please call the San Marcos WIC office at 512.393.8040.  WIC is an equal-opportunity provider.

For additional information, visit: http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/index.html or http://breastmilkcounts.com/