Senator Merkley: Breastfeeding Great Formula for Moms and Babies

Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week


By Senator Jeff Merkley



Today marks the first day of World Breastfeeding Week - a week where people come together to raise awareness about the health benefits of breastfeeding and to promote the rights of nursing moms around the globe. 

Breastfeeding provides proven health benefits for both babies and moms, while at the same time increasing productivity for businesses.  Studies have shown that children who are breastfed have lower risks of diseases and illnesses including asthma, diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers.  New moms who breastfeed also have reduced rates of cancer and diabetes.  Simply put, breastfeeding provides a great ‘formula’ for healthier moms and babies.

This year we took a significant stride forward to help support nursing moms across America.  The 2010 health care law includes an amendment I authored that provides nursing moms with reasonable break times and a private place to pump milk in the workplace.  This may be old news in Oregon, where these protections have been in place since 2008, but enacting similar national legislation greatly enhances breastfeeding opportunities for all of our nation’s mothers.

Through events like World Breastfeeding Week and with the help of organizations like Lane County Friends of the Birth Center, we can accomplish a great deal for new moms.  It’s important to continue to work together to ensure that nursing moms around the world have every opportunity available to provide healthy breast milk for their new babies.

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Click here to communicate with Sen. Merkley.

Read more about Lane County Friends of the Birth Center's World Breastfeeding Week Celebration and come back for tomorrow's post: 

Read what families have to say about accessing lactation services in a Baby Friendly facility – the PeaceHealth Nurse Midwifery Birth Center. LaneCoFBC will invite more families to share their perspectives via an online survey. Findings will be shared with local healthcare facilities and community leaders.