JACKSONVILLE — This August, the Florida Department of Health in Duval County (DOH-Duval) is celebrating National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. With the Breastfeeding Education and Support Program, DOH-Duval is working to promote breastfeeding as a vital health activity and encourage breastfeeding-friendly communities.

“Breastfeeding is an important factor in the growth and development of our babies,” said DOH-Duval Breastfeeding Coordinator Patricia Holder. “It is a great opportunity to reduce health risks for mother and baby.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mothers who breastfeed their children are at a healthier weight on average than those who do not. They also have a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, breast and ovarian cancer. Children who are breastfed have a lower risk for developing respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, asthma, obesity, Type 2 diabetes and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

The DOH-Duval Breastfeeding Education and Support Program promotes breastfeeding as an integral part of nutrition services. The program’s goal is to increase the initiation and duration of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding Support Group meetings are designed to encourage information sharing and awareness for mothers as breastfeeding participants. Meetings scheduled for August are as follows:

Wesconnett WIC & Nutrition
August 4, 2015 at Noon 
5150-9 Timuquana Road   32210

Pearl WIC and Nutrition
August 5, 2015 at 3:00 p.m.         
5322-24 N. Pearl Street   32208

900 Bldg. WIC & Nutrition
August 6, 2015 at Noon
900 University Blvd. N.   32211

West Jax WIC & Nutrition
August 17, 2015 at 1:00 p.m.            
120 King Street   32204

Emerald Tiger WIC & Nutrition
August 18, 2015 at 3:00 p.m.            
3225 University Blvd.   32216

For more information on DOH-Duval Breastfeeding Support Group meetings, visit our events page.