WARREN - Warren Mayor Doug Franklin stressed the importance of breastfeeding when he helped kick off World Breastfeeding Week recently at the Trumbull County WIC office in Warren.
"We need to talk about being a healthy community, and it all starts with mothers and their infants," he said while presenting the signed World Breastfeeding Week Proclamation to WIC Manager Kim Beckley.
Franklin said that keeping breastfeeding high on the public health agenda is critical to improving global health and that early and exclusive breastfeeding with the introduction of appropriate complementary feeding ensures mothers and infants receive maximum health benefits.
Beckley said WIC (Women, Infants and Children) is a nutrition education program that provides nutritious foods for pregnant women, women who have just had a baby, breastfeeding moms, infants and children up to age 5.
She said in addition, the Trumbull County WIC program utilizes breastfeeding peer helpers to provide mother-to-mother education and support to help mothers reach their breastfeeding goals. They meet with WIC clients prenatally to help prepare for the new baby and follow up postpartum to answer questions.
Also, Bosom Buddies, a breastfeeding group for new and expectant WIC moms, allows moms to meet monthly and share issues that matter to them.