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Monday, July 23, 2012

A free and highly nutritious baby food that has been the topic of national discussion will be the focus of a one-day only booth at the Todos Santos farmers market in Concord on August 2.

Contra Costa Health Services staff members plan to promote the many benefits of breast milk, including reduced risk for chronic disease, illness and obesity, to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7). The booth is hosted by the Supplemental Food and Nutrition Program of Contra Costa Health Services' Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program and will run from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 2. It is free and all are welcome to attend.

Marina Rowoldt, a Registered Dietitian and Senior Public Health Nutritionist at the Concord WIC Clinic, said the goal of the celebration is to offer support and encourage mothers who are able and interested in breastfeeding their children. "The recent awareness raised by the military mothers has put breastfeeding back into the national spotlight," Rowoldt said. "We want to provide an opportunity for new and expectant mothers to learn about breastfeeding, as well as ask questions and get real answers."

The American Academy of Pediatrics and WIC recommend exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months and up to a year or longer, if able. Evidence shows that breastfeeding has many benefits for mother and child. Research indicates that infants who are breastfed at least six months have five times fewer illnesses, have three times fewer ear infections, are less likely to develop asthma, and experience less diarrhea and constipation than infants fed formula. In addition, breastfed infants are less likely to become obese.

Rowoldt said that 90% of mothers enrolled in Contra Costa WIC breastfeed in the hospital, yet only 43% of Contra Costa WIC mothers continue to breastfeed six months after giving birth "We hope to inform families about the benefits of breastfeeding and how to overcome challenges that may go along with it, such as returning to work," she said.

WIC, Prenatal Care Guidance Program and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program of Contra Costa Health Services will provide information on breastfeeding, nutrition and infant feeding during Thursday's event. Eligible new and expecting mothers will also be invited to participate in the WIC Program. This event has been made possible through a sponsorship Kaiser Grant and donations by various community partners.

Additional World Breastfeeding Week celebrations will take place at the Richmond, Pittsburg and Brentwood WIC offices during regular hours for WIC participants. People unable to attend any of these celebrations can receive free breastfeeding information from a lactation consultant by calling the Contra Costa Breastfeeding Advice Line at 1-866-878-7767. Additional breastfeeding resources are available at www.cchealth.org/services/breastfeeding/

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