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Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility

August 02, 2021

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action’s theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2021, Aug. 1-7, is “Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility.”

So exactly what about breastfeeding needs protecting?

In this episode of Hartford HealthCare’s More Life podcast, Kara Giroux, a Lactation Consultant and Community Education Coordinator with Hartford HealthCare at Backus Hospital in Willimantic, and Sarah Quadrato, a Nurse Educator with Women’s Health Services at Hartford Hospital, help to explain.

Listen to the full podcast episode:

“It has been the most difficult and rewarding experience of my life. To balance motherhood, and a career, and my children’s nutrition at the same time has shown me that women are powerful and resilient.”

“We know that human milk feeding is the best product for human babies, and all of the things that improve the long-term health of the human come in the form of human nutrition right from birth,” says Giroux. “Breastfeeding in itself, without any other work, is one of the things we can do that can affect long-term health goals of everyone on the planet.”

Scientific evidence resoundingly recommends human milk exclusively for the first six months with continued breastfeeding until one year and beyond. For women who work, breastfeeding can present unique challenges.

Hartford HealthCare is one of a growing number of nationally recognized Breastfeeding Friendly Workplaces. Having the support of an employer is critical to encourage and protect breastfeeding, not only for the health of the baby, but for improved health for the employee and her family.