La Lactancia Materna/Breastfeeding

I love this picture of a Nica, breastfeeding her baby, with her rifle over her shoulder. Talk about multi-tasking! The announcement on the right was painted on the side of a health department in Somotillo, which is near the border to Honduras. It says: "This health department promotes, fosters, and supports exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of age, and (breastfeeding) with complimentary foods until 2 years old". This is consistent with the World Health Organization's stance on breastfeeding, and with the American Academy of Pediatrics' policy statement. Except the AAP doesn't cite 2 years of age as and ending point, they say the duration should continue as long as "mutually desired". Shocking, I know. What a difference there would be in our health world if we didn't have so many obstacles to breastfeeding in the U.S. The picture in the middle is encircled by these words, clockwise: Natural spacing of pregnancies, Growth & Development, Oral Rehydration, Immunization, and Nourishment. What a great public service announcement! A little something from the U.S. Lactation Consultant Association's eNews:

PREVENTING OBESITY BEGINS AT BIRTH THROUGH BREASTFEEDING: As obesity rates climb in this country, more people in important places are publically acknowledging the role that breastfeeding may play in preventing obesity. To read more, see the following:

The new Surgeon General’s report on obesity
Michelle Obama speaks out
A recent press release from the United States Breastfeeding Committee