Orange County, California- August 7, 2007- To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, The Orange County Breastfeeding Coalition (OCBFC) challenged it’s supporters to log as many miles as possible in less than 12 hours to bring awareness to the importance of breastfeeding as a first step and key health strategy for preventing many acute and chronic childhood diseases including obesity.  Collectively participants from the OCBFC, many local hospitals, the Orange County Health Care Agency, other local non profit organizations, and even local fitness facilities including the Newport Beach Athletic Club for Women logged over 210 miles in less than 12 hours.

According to the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy, scientific evidence proves that if every mother could breastfeed within the first hour of delivery and continue for at least 6 months; over 1 million babies would be saved worldwide.  It is the position of the Centers for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Office of Women’s Health, and the World Health Organization and others that mothers should offer their babies only breast milk through the first 6 months.  Unfortunately, only 12% of US born babies are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months.  According to Kristie Holt, MPH, CHES, the President of OCBFC “we need to inform the public of both the benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby, and the potential hazards of NOT breastfeeding.”  “It is absolutely critical that hospitals have specific policies that support breastfeeding (such as allowing babies to “room in” with mothers, and providing lactation support), because early initiation (as soon after delivery as possible) is important to establishing successful breastfeeding.”  “Early and often is what we tell new mothers.  Healthy, full term babies are alert and ready to nurse within the first hour after delivery.  Breastfeeding right away helps to establish a generous milk supply, releases hormones that help the mother recover from delivery, and supplies instant immunity to the baby.”  

(Pictures - top to bottom - Saddleback Lactation Consultations dressed up to celebrate after their walk; Natalie Holt (age 9) rests with her dog Nacho after their 1 mile walk; Nancy Clifton-Hawkins (past president OCBFC) swim, kicked, and pulled her way through 1760 yards/1 mile)