Martinsburg—The local WIC office marked World Breastfeeding Month with a special event last week, recognizing the importance of breastfeeding for families. Initially, World Breastfeeding Week was celebrated in the first week of August, but the World Health Organization has since extended the celebration to the entire month.
To honor this month-long focus, the Martinsburg WIC office hosted a gathering and organized weekly breastfeeding support group meetings every Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. throughout August.
Norma Dominguez, a breastfeeding peer counselor at WIC, emphasized the significance of supporting new mothers. “Helping young moms and sharing the benefits of breastfeeding is so important,” Dominguez said. “There are so many benefits for both moms and babies.”
The West Virginia WIC program aims to improve the health of women, infants, and children by offering quality nutrition and breastfeeding counseling, education, health monitoring, and nutritious foods.
Research highlights the numerous benefits of breastfeeding. For babies, it can reduce the risk of infections, asthma, ear infections, respiratory illnesses, childhood obesity, Type 2 diabetes, leukemia, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). For mothers, breastfeeding aids quicker recovery from childbirth, reduces the risk of high blood pressure, certain cancers, and Type 2 diabetes, and supports postpartum weight loss. Additionally, breastfeeding fosters bonding through physical contact and saves the cost of formula.
WIC Director Mitch Greenbaum noted that West Virginia has historically had low breastfeeding rates, though numbers are gradually increasing. “Education and cultural acceptance are making a difference,” Greenbaum said, also citing the recent change in law allowing public breastfeeding as a positive development.
In addition to breastfeeding support, WIC offers counseling, classes, and food packages. Participants receive an EBT card to purchase healthy foods such as milk, cheese, bread, fruits, and vegetables.
