One of the biggest misconceptions about breastfeeding is "it is just a natural thing to do," according to Barbara Stahnke, MEd, RD, LD, nutrition services director for Cobb & Douglas Public Health.

"Whether it is or isn't doesn't mean that a mom might not need help," Stahnke says. "Whether it is help with latch or with knowing about medications and breastfeeding, or just with support during the 'I'm so tired I can hardly move' phase that all new mothers will experience, breastfeeding mothers need to get that help."

World Breastfeeding Week is Aug. 1-7 and passionate advocates like Stahnke want to spread the message of its importance and assist new and experienced mothers.

"Breast milk is the most appropriate food for almost all infants in the first six months of life," Stahnke said.

The World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the National WIC Association are among the organizations that recommend breastfeeding exclusively during the first six months and the advantages, which include decreased risk of overweight, obesity and illness, are tremendous.

Dinisha Rogers, RD, LD, IBCIC, district nutrition manager for Gwinnett, Newton & Rockdale Counties Health District, said it could take hours of conversation to share all the benefits of breastfeeding, but simply put, breast milk provides babies proper nutrition with its "highly bioavailable vitamins, minerals and other nutrients."

"Formula laboratories are constantly analyzing human milk to discover what makes it so superior. When a benefit is discovered in human milk, the scientists try to find some other (non-human) source or way to synthetically manufacture it in the laboratory.  For example, the DHA in infant formula is chemically extracted from algae and fungus," Rogers said.

Breastfeeding also helps moms.

"The physical act of breastfeeding is important, too. The skin-to-skin contact between mom and baby has been shown to increase bonding, decrease mom's chance of having post-partum depression, help regulate baby's body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and even blood sugar levels," Rogers said.

Breastfeeding also presents immunologic and safety advantages, as it can boost a baby's immune system and is safe during natural disasters or any time there is unsanitary water or refrigeration is unavailable, Rogers said.

It also can reduce employer costs.

"Many employers are not aware of the increased costs to their business due to employee sick leave use when parents have to be out more often with infants fed breast milk substitutes," Stahnke said. "As a nation, it is estimated that if 90 percent of our babies breast fed exclusively for the first six months of life, our health care costs nationally would reduce by $13 billion.

The Business Case for Breastfeeding, a research-backed program distributed by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Maternal Child Health Bureau, may help increase Georgia businesses' adoption of policies supporting breastfeeding mothers. There also are efforts to boost the number of hospitals that provide breastfeeding support, thereby earning a "baby-friendly" designation.

"The most important thing for new moms and experienced moms to know is get help if it hurts, if you are having problems or you don't think you can," Stahnke says.

Breastfeeding is a learning process for moms and their babies, Rogers says.

"I recommend taking a breastfeeding class or finding a breastfeeding expert (lactation consultant) to discuss any personal concerns," Rogers says. "While friends and family can be great supporters of breastfeeding, experts can provide you advice that is based on scientific evidence and clinical practice from a multitude of mothers."

Call Georgia WIC at (800) 228-9173 for information about WIC and breastfeeding.

-Story by Nicole Price, DPH Communications