Every August, we celebrate National Breastfeeding Month, a time to highlight the unique benefits breastfeeding can provide for both mothers and their babies. This month is dedicated to creating awareness about breastfeeding and promoting its acceptance as a beneficial part of early childhood development.

Breast milk is often referred to as a baby's "first food." It is filled with a special recipe of proteins, fats, and vitamins, all playing a unique part in a baby's growth. This special recipe changes day to day to meet your baby's needs. Plus, it has something extra special - it contains little warriors, also known as antibodies, that help babies fight off sickness and diseases. Breast milk also helps grow the beneficial bacteria in a baby's tummy. These good bugs play a big role in keeping a baby healthy, not just now but also as they grow older. They help protect against things like allergies and weight problems in the future.

Breastfeeding does not just benefit the baby but also the breastfeeding parent. Breastfeeding helps decrease the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Breastfeeding can also serve an important role in the emotional development of a child. The physical closeness, skin-to-skin touching, and eye contact all help a baby bond with their mother and feel secure. These feelings of attachment contribute to the baby's emotional and social development. However, it's essential to emphasize that breastfeeding is just one of many ways that such bonding can happen. Parents who can't or choose not to breastfeed have many other ways of creating this closeness—cuddling, skin-to-skin contact, or simply spending quality time—to foster this essential connection with their babies.

On a working lactating parent’s breastfeeding journey, the day will come when they must return to work. This day may be met with many different emotions: excitement to see co-workers again, sadness to leave the infant, and anxiety surrounding how to keep breastfeeding when returning to work. One way to help relieve some of this anxiety and prepare for returning to work is to create a "milk stash.” It is best to start creating a “stash” one month prior to returning to work. A lactating parent should use a well-fitting double electric pump and pump at least one time per day to build up their stash.  One way to easily create an extra milk stash is to pump first thing when you wake up, before breastfeeding the infant. This is often when your milk supply is the highest, and easily creates a little bit of extra milk to put away in the freezer for when you return to work.

Did you know that in April 2023 more protections went into effect to help protect breastfeeding parents’ time to pump at work. The PUMP act was set into place which allows all working breastfeeding parents to a clean, private space other than a restroom to pump. These protections are for all lactating working parents. This act also clarifies that if an employee is not completely relieved from duty when they are pumping, this time can be counted as on the clock. This is a huge win for lactating employees!

Foundation Health Partners supports all their lactating employees by providing breastfeeding rooms at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and Tanana Valley Clinic, fridges, and pumps for all their lactating employees. Foundation Health Partners is a staunch supporter of making “Breastfeeding and work, work!”

During National Breastfeeding Month, let's celebrate and support all parents who choose to breastfeed and ensure we spread the word about its benefits. Let's also remember to show support for all parents, irrespective of how they choose to feed their babies. Breastfeeding is more than just a meal; it's a powerful aspect of parenting and an impressive display of the human body's capabilities. By understanding and acknowledging the benefits of breastfeeding, we're celebrating the wonder of parenthood and the incredible impact it has on the lives of the next generation.