Resource for media on the values of breastfeeding

Resource for media on the values of breastfeeding

Image: N Manister August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, a practice endorsed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as leading to better health for both babies and their mothers. Nancy N. Manister DNS, FNP-BC, assistant professor of nursing at Fairfield University's School of Nursing, is a specialist in women's health who has worked as a board certified lactation consultant.

Dr. Manister said of the merits of breastfeeding: "As we celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness Month, we congratulate the many new mothers who have chosen breastfeeding as the feeding choice for their newborns. We also recognize the importance of their many supporters, a key to breastfeeding success. We have made great strides in increasing the number of women who initiate breastfeeding after delivery, increasing this rate to 83.3% in Connecticut. Increasing the number of women who breastfeed, and then continue to breastfeed through one year of life are national health objectives. This is because breastfeeding provides so many benefits to baby, mother, family, and society. Some of these benefits include: decreased rate of infections for the newborn and child, reduced rates of breast and ovarian cancers as well as greater weight loss and protection from type II diabetes and heart disease for mom, more economical, and for society decreases dependence on cows and does not produce product waste. Let us continue to encourage and support breastfeeding mothers."

Dr. Manister is a board certified family nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist who has worked in both community and hospital settings for more than 30 years. She is also a specialist in College Health. Her research focuses on the role of stress in emotional eating and obesity.

Posted On: 08-07-2014 03:08 PM

Volume: 47 Number: 19