Contact: Jennie Wahrer, RN Maternal & Child Health Manager at 970-328-2604 or
jennie.wahrer@eaglecounty.us August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. The campaign, sponsored by Eagle County Public Health and the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program, aims to empower women and pave the road to lifelong health through breastfeeding. The WIC program encourages mothers to breastfeed early and exclusively with the introduction of appropriate foods around six months of age, to ensure that mothers and infants receive maximum health benefits.
According to Jennie Wahrer, Maternal & Child Health Manager in the county’s Public Health Department, breastfeeding is a learned behavior and the journey begins with the support of families, health care providers, employers and communities. “Babies who are exclusively breastfed for six months are less likely to develop ear infections, diarrhea and respiratory illnesses, and may be less likely to develop childhood obesity,” said Wahrer.
Eagle County’s WIC educators are trained and certified in lactation management and can help families navigate the way to successful breastfeeding. WIC can also assist employers in setting up lactation programs to help mothers continue breastfeeding after they return to work.
For more information about National Breastfeeding Month, visit
www.usbreastfeeding.org/nbm. For more information about WIC programs in Eagle County, contact Eagle County Public Health at 970-328-8840.