Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Babies Were Born to be Breastfed (Voice of America)

For feeding babies, health experts agree that nothing is better than breast milk. It contains anti-bodies that reduce rates of childhood illnesses. Breastfeeding also protects mothers from certain ovarian and breast cancers. While more American women are nursing their babies now than anytime in the last 50 years, the United States still has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the developed world. A national awareness campaign designed to change that.

"Recent studies show that babies who are breastfed are less likely to develop ear infections, respiratory illness and diarrhea. Babies were born to be breastfed!" That's the message of the campaign, which has been disseminated via TV, radio and billboards throughout the country for more than a year.

"The campaign messages are really targeted to women of childbearing age, which ranges from teens all the way through the 30s," Campaign spokeswoman Dr. Lori Feldman-Winter says. The message seems to be getting through. A survey conducted last month revealed that - compared to last year - more men and women agree that breastfeeding is the best way to feed a baby. And they are more comfortable about seeing a woman breastfeed in public.



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