City News

Health care professionals, mothers gather to encourage breastfeeding

Posted: Aug 4, 2012 6:27 PM by KTVQ - Dustin Klemann
Updated: Aug 4, 2012 8:37 PM

BILLINGS - For the first time, health care professionals in the Billings area took aim at raising awareness and advocate breastfeeding.

August 1st through the 7th marks World Breastfeeding Week which began 20 years ago. While the week encourages breastfeeding, it is also serves as education and support for mothers.

Baby formula has been considered an effective and safe alternative to breast feeding but Karen Bowers, a registered nurse and lactation consultant in Billings, said companies who make formula will never be able to replicate the type of nutrition found in breast milk.

Events like the one today educate mothers as to what benefits they too can receive from breastfeeding including, but not limited to, lower risks of osteoporosis, forms of cancer, and diabetes.

Evidence based care is used in the Billings hospital setting and some hospitals around the state, including St. Vincents, have ceased providing baby formula when mothers are discharged.

Even though the turnout was relatively low, event officials for today's celebration plan to continue the event, but also increase advertising for the walk.