Black Lives Matter.
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

  • Voices
  • About
    • Overview
    • Staff
    • Members
    • Covenant Partners
    • Issue Statements
    • Governing Board
  • Programs
    • Ecumenical Immigration Alliance
      • Ideas for Action
      • Sign Our Statement
      • The NC Sanctuary Coalition
      • Immigration Bible Study
      • Contact
    • NC Interfaith Power & Light
      • NCIPL Overview
      • Faith in Action NCIPL
      • NCIPL Articles
      • NCIPL Resources
      • Upcoming Events for NCIPL
      • Contact NCIPL
    • Partners in Health & Wholeness
      • PHW Staff
      • Mini-Grants
      • PHW Collaborative Pledge
      • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
      • PHW Articles
      • FAQs
  • Priorities
    • Racial Justice
    • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
    • Gun Violence Prevention
    • Public Education
    • NC Sanctuary Coalition
    • Farmworkers
    • Legislative Advocacy
    • Christian Unity
    • Peace
    • NC No Torture
  • COVID-19 Resources
  • Events
  • Resources
    • Publications & Reports
    • Raleigh Report
    • Lectionary
    • Sermons
  • Donate
  • Council Store
  • Show Search

Search NC Council of Churches

Hide Search

August is National Breastfeeding Month

Shannon Axtell Martin, PHW Regional Coordinator · August 4, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Did you know that August is National Breastfeeding Month and that this week is World Breastfeeding Week? Breastfeeding has some important health implications for both mom and baby. It also has social, emotional and justice implications as well. For example, because only 13% of employers offer paid leave in the U.S., many women stop breastfeeding sooner than they’d planned.

The surgeon general recommends exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age, but this does not often become a reality. According to an article by Sili Reico on Momsrising.com, “28.8% of mothers did not meet their intention to breastfeed at least 3 months. Odds of not meeting intention to breastfeed at least 3 months were higher among mothers who returned to work full time before 3 months.” And, according to Human Rights Watch, the median duration of breastfeeding doubled for all new mothers who used California’s Paid Family Leave program.  The added anxiety of making ends meet does not help foster a healthy breastfeeding relationship.

It is important to address the emotional aspect as breastfeeding as well. While we know some mothers and babies benefit from the bonding of breastfeeding, some mothers suffer from postpartum depression, plus the anxiety and pressure of having to provide for their child. The number one reason women stop breastfeeding is the perception that they aren’t producing enough breastmilk to keep their baby healthy. And while in reality only about 1-5% of women cannot produce enough breastmilk to provide for their baby, we do not have research to take into account the effects of stress and anxiety on milk production.

There are many opinions and studies on the impacts of breastfeeding, but an essential aspect of a healthy breastfeeding experience is for the mom to have the support and tools she needs.  Here is a list of resources put together by PHW’s former program, the Breastfeeding Collaborative. It is a good starting point to find resources to support breastfeeding moms. It is also essential that we, as faith communities, affirm and support breastfeeding moms, dispelling any stigmas that may still surround breastfeeding in our communities, and offering them comfortable spaces to breastfeed. Here is a breastfeeding statement your congregation may be interested in adopting.

This month, you may also be interested in tuning in to momsrising.com’s twitter conversations about various breastfeeding topics, Wednesdays at 2 p.m., using the hashtag #WellnessWed. They will also be keeping their website and blog updated this month with real stories of the successes and struggles of breastfeeding.  If you know a breastfeeding mom, or a mom struggling to or unable to breastfeed, offer her some encouragement, and consider helping connect her with some of these resources and networks of support so she knows she is not alone.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Children & Youth, Health

Shannon Axtell Martin, PHW Regional Coordinator

About Shannon Axtell Martin, PHW Regional Coordinator

I get so excited about the many aspects of the faith and health, particularly the food and faith, movement. I am honored to be a part of it through the work of PHW. I love travelling, cooking, eating, writing and preaching. I am an aspiring gardener, artist, and half-marathoner. My deepest joys in life involve my 8th and 9th grade girls small group, wonderful family, dear friends, husband Robert and puppy Benny, and the amazing blessing of figuring out this journey of life together.
Learn more about PHW and our efforts to improve the health of God’s people: healthandwholeness.org

Reader Interactions

More Like This

Because of Jesus
The Perfect Gift for Mother’s Day
PHW Faith and Health Summit: Thank You

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anonymous comments or comments that target individuals will not be posted (please include your first and last name). All comments must be on topic and respectful. Comments will not be posted until they have been reviewed by a moderator. Comments do not reflect the positions of the NC Council of Churches.

Footer

Contact

NC Council of Churches
27 Horne St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 828-6501
info@ncchurches.org

Facebook

Partners in Health and Wholeness

Featured

August is National Breastfeeding Month

Latest Tweets

Amazing Earth Day spent with some incredible youth leaders! #EarthDay2021 twitter.com/NCIPL/st…

About 3 hours ago

Thousands of #Workers in NC are struggling to make ends meet on poverty-level wages. The majority of these workers are women and disproportionately women of color. It’s our turn to raise the wage to $15! pic.twitter.com/fwUM…

About 8 hours ago

North Carolina needs an economy that works for all & ensures broadly shared prosperity, but with a #MinimumWage that has not increased in 12 years, that is simply not the case for many hourly workers. Tell lawmakers to #RaiseTheWage: buff.ly/2Qp8cOD #OurTurnNC #NCFor15

About 9 hours ago

Happening today at 4! Join our leading youth activists for this important conversation. #EarthDay2021 twitter.com/NCIPL/st…

About 12 hours ago

The verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial is only a small step toward holding police accountable for using excessive force against our black & brown siblings. There is still so much work to do to dismantle racism that is apparent in the white supremacist culture we live in. #BLM

Yesterday

Follow @ncchurches

Latest Tweets

Now that all North Carolinians age 16+ are eligible to receive a #COVID19 vaccine, use the @ncdhhs resource hub to find a local provider near you to get your shot! #MySpotMyShotNC #NC covid19.ncdhhs.gov/v… #MindfulTogether

About 6 days ago

Join us next Thurs., April 22 for our Sacred Conversations event on caring for creation. We'll be discussing environmental caretaking, collective action, and our Sustainability Pledge. Register online at ncchurches.ourpowerb… @NCIPL #MindfulTogether #EarthDay pic.twitter.com/GTpI…

Last week

Read our spotlight piece on Olive Branch Ministry to learn more about their faith-based harm reduction work serving the foothills and piedmont of North Carolina. ncchurches.org/2021/… @olivebranchgals #MindfulTogether pic.twitter.com/xj2U…

Last week

Our work has led us to recognize the impact our environment has on our health and ability to flourish. Click below to read more about our commitment to being stewards of God’s good Creation through our Sustainability Pledge. ncchurches.org/phw-s… @NCIPL #MindfulTogether

Last week

Awesome opportunity from our partners at @emergingissues! #MindfulTogether twitter.com/emerging…

About a week ago

Follow @healthandfaith

Latest Tweets

RT @mocleanair This is in 20 minutes. twitter.com/GretaThu…

About 8 minutes ago

RT @mocleanair Net zero is not zero. Emissions are emissions whether you “count” them or not. 50% is not bold or dramatic, it is the bare minimum. It is more than we have done before, but we have 3 decades of ignoring what needs to be done. For our kids’ sake, don’t give up on 1.5C. twitter.com/GretaThu…

About 9 minutes ago

RT @AlabamaPJC pic.twitter.com/nlbX…

About 21 minutes ago

RT @ClimateNexus This #EarthDay, we have an our opportunity to rebuild America and create a safer, cleaner, more prosperous future for all. The #AmericanJobsPlan would put millions back to work, protect communities from climate disaster, and make transformational progress on the climate crisis. pic.twitter.com/d2Up…

About 39 minutes ago

RT @ClimatePower "We are not going to take it slow and we are not going to take it one step at a time ... We are going to take a giant leap into the future." —@VP We have a once-in-a-generation chance to build our economy back better and save our planet. We must seize it. #EarthDay pic.twitter.com/hCTv…

About 40 minutes ago

Follow @ncipl

Latest Tweets

Copyright © 2021 NC Council of Churches · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design · Hosted by WP Engine