Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital's Lactation Services Team celebrated World Breastfeeding Week Aug. 1-7 with activities designed to promote awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding - for babies and moms.

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in more than 100 countries each year on various dates. In recognition of the international summer Olympics, this year's theme, "Mother Support: Going for The Gold!," encourages mothers to achieve the gold standard of infant feeding with exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.

"Both mothers and babies benefit from breastfeeding during those first few hours of life and up to two years," said Sally McGann, RN, director of Women's Services Unit. "Breast milk is easy for newborns to digest and it contains antibodies that can protect infants from bacterial and viral infections."

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding throughout the first year of life, with the belief that breast milk is "the optimal form of nutrition for infant growth and development."

Beyond the vital bonding experience, the health benefits of breastfeeding are encouraging and include a lower risk for ear and respiratory infections, atopic dermatitis, gastroenteritis, necrotizing enterocolitis, type 2 diabetes, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and childhood obesity.

For mothers, benefits of breastfeeding include decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes. Breastfeeding also benefits mothers by speeding the return of uterine tone and stopping post-birth bleeding.

"At Henry Mayo, we are committed to supporting mothers in a warm, nurturing, caring atmosphere throughout their breastfeeding experience," said Mary Beth Sweet, one of three lactation consultants who facilitates the hospital's First Weeks Breastfeeding support group. "We not only address all breastfeeding issues but also provide a place where mothers can meet other mothers of young infants and discuss related topics, such as growth spurts, developmental milestones, and sleep issues."

The support group is one of several new services offered by the hospital's Lactation Services Team. Services also available include a prenatal breastfeeding workshop, inpatient and outpatient bedside assistance and follow-up care, critical information on tools and products as well as solutions to breastfeeding problems.

"New mothers often need the assistance with breastfeeding and we are so pleased to be able to offer this program for them," added Lisa Araki, CLC, lactation consultant. "The participation of mom's and support from physicians has been tremendous and it's nice to know we're making available something that is needed in the community."

The First Weeks Breastfeeding Support Group meets Thursdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and has grown from three postpartum mothers to close to 20 each week.

The weekly support group is open to all lactating mothers with newborns up to three months old. The support group meets in the ARU Dining Room in Henry Mayo Hospital's Pavilion. Cost is $10 per person.