August observances raise awareness to benefits of breastfeeding

August marks two important observances in the breastfeeding world - World Breastfeeding Week was Aug. 1 to Aug. 7 and Black Breastfeeding Week runs Aug. 25 to Aug. 31.

It's a big month for La Leche League International, which provides support to mothers around the world. And the international group just happens to be based right here in the Triangle. The 65-year-old nonprofit has more than 5,000 leaders in more than 80 countries that provide support and assistance to breastfeeding moms.

I checked in with Pam Freedman, a La Leche League leader in Chapel Hill, to learn more about what the group is doing. Freedman leads a group with her co-leader Tanisha Hinton. They now meet virtually with families through Zoom.

For Go Ask Mom's weekly feature of local moms, Freedman, with an assist from Hinton, answered a few questions. Here's a Q&A.

GAM: How did you get involved in La Leche League originally? What was it about its mission that compelled you to get involved? 

PF: I did not nurse my first child. I had no support or information about breastfeeding and none of my peers were breastfeeding. When pregnant with our second child, I was given LLL's Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. I was excited to try and was amazed that my parenting style changed with this natural way to feed my baby. I loved the support I received through LLL meetings and the friendships we made with other parents. I wanted to give back to help others to enjoy the benefits and ease that breastfeeding can give.

GAM: What do we know about the benefits of breastfeeding? Why is it important to raise awareness during World Breastfeeding Week?

PF: The benefits of breastfeeding are numerous. In infants and children, breast milk is the perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat adjusting to your baby's needs (ie for premature infants, breast milk is a different composition from that of a full-term infant). It is easily digested as well as populating the gut with good bacteria. Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria as well as living white blood cells to protect the infant. Breastfeeding lowers a baby's risk of having asthma or allergies. In addition, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea. The American Academy of Pediatrics indicates that breastfeeding also plays a role in the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome. Research is being done to confirm that breastfeeding lowers the risk of diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers. For mothers, breastfeeding releases the hormone oxytocin, which helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size and may reduce uterine bleeding after birth. Breastfeeding also lowers your risk of breast and ovarian cancer as well as the risk of osteoporosis.

GAM: August will mark Black Breastfeeding Week. What are the issues facing Black moms that are making them less likely to breastfeed? Are those rates improving?

PF: Black babies die at twice the rate (in some place, nearly triple) the rate of white babies. The high infant mortality rate among Black infants can be attributed to being disproportionately born too small, too sick, or too soon. These babies need the immunities and nutritional benefit of breast milk the most. Fewer non-Hispanic Black infants (74%) are ever breastfed compared with non-Hispanic white infants (86.6%) and Hispanic infants (82.9%). The gap has narrowed. In 2012, it was 64%. Inadequate healthcare, income disparities and being required to return to work as early as two weeks postpartum all contribute to the lower rates of breastfeeding. Strong support for all families from our government, businesses, and healthcare providers can help result in healthier children and their parents.

GAM: I breastfed both of my daughters, but in the early weeks and months, it was really hard. For me, support from my family and friends who had breastfed and a great lactation consultant were critical. Tell me about the support network offered through La Leche League?

PF: Having a new baby can be difficult. That's why it’s important to have support especially from someone who has breastfed their own children. All La Leche League Leaders have breastfed a child for a year or more. The process for becoming a leader requires attendance at meetings as well as reading and learning how to listen and respond to concerns. All babies are different as are their mothers; there is no “right” answer to a question. For a new parent coming to meetings (which are held virtually now) and seeing how or what other new mothers are doing can help one feel less alone. Right now leaders respond to texts, Facetime, Facebook messages, phone calls and have Zoom or Facebook live meetings. Our goal is to provide information so that new parents can make decisions that work best for them and their families. Each mother is the expert on her baby and happy breastfeeding can be an empowering experience.

Leaders also have support from others in the organization for instances that are unusual or different from what that leader has experienced.

GAM: To the new mom out there who is reading this through bleary eyes because she is absolutely exhausted and wondering if this breastfeeding thing is for her, what's your pep talk?  

PF: Reach out for support. Sometimes that's all anyone needs. Concentrate on the benefits for your baby and yourself. Knowing those benefits can help us to persevere. When folks say nap when the baby naps - do it!  Take it hour by hour. The grass is not always greener. Those first six weeks can be a blur - be kind to yourself. Keep the pumping to a minimum - it can wait.  You are doing the best possible thing for your baby. Reach out and talk to a trusted support person. Get to a La Leche League meeting, the earlier the better!

Go Ask Mom features local moms every Monday.