6th
Annual Excellence Triathlon - Great Success!
On
SAVE
THE DATE
9th
Annual Graylyn Conference: Women’s Cognitive Health
The Women’s Health Center of
Excellence will host the 9th Annual Graylyn
Conference on Women’s Health at the
Did You Know About Our Research Support
Core?
It’s never too early (or too
late!) to consult the WHCoE Research Support Core
with regard to a grant application that’s underway – whether it’s for the NIH,
a foundation, or intramural. The Core assists both women researchers, and
faculty who do women’s health research within WFUHS. We can help by clarifying
hypotheses and study design, budget preparation, editing the text,
prioritization of tasks, and answering those myriad questions that can arise
while preparing an application. Contact
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Feature
Article
August 1-7 is World
Breastfeeding Week. Turn over to learn more about breastfeeding. And remember, the WHCOE lactation room at Piedmont
Plaza II is open 8:30-Noon, 1:30-4:30pm, M-Th,
8:30-Noon, F. Call 713-4220 to schedule a time. And don’t forget, we now offer
a range of lactation supplies, including pumps and accessories. Visit www.wfubmc.edu/women/wc_t_breastfeeding
or contact Kim Wagoner at 713-4223 or to learn more.
The U.S.
Surgeon General recommends that babies be fed breast milk for the first 6
months and breastfeeding to continue
for 12 months, because breast milk provides the right balance of nutrients to help an infant grow and develop. Mother’s milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water and protein that is needed and most babies
find it easier to digest breast milk than formula or cow’s milk. Breastfed babies tend to gain less
unnecessary weight and premature babies do better when breastfed compared to
premature babies who are fed formula. The
physical contact from breastfeeding is important to newborns and can help them
feel more secure, warm and comforted.
Breast milk is good for baby as it has antibodies to help infants fight off illness, such as diarrhea and ear infections. It enhances the immune system, as breastfed
babies have a better response to immunizations against diseases, such a polio and
diphtheria, and it builds up resistance to infections
like the common infant respiratory infection.
Many studies show that breastfed infants have lower rates
of chronic childhood diseases like diabetes, cancer, allergies and asthma.
Breastfeeding is also good for mom as it uses up extra calories,
making it easier to lose pregnancy weight.
Breastfeeding requires mothers to take some relaxed time for themselves and their babies. It increases self-confidence for mom and allows bonding
to occur with the baby. A mother can
give her baby immediate satisfaction when the baby is hungry, as there are no
bottles to warm and no formula to measure and mix, thereby reducing stress.
And a mother knows her baby is safe,
because milk straight from the breast is always sterile. Breastfeeding helps
the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens bleeding after child birth.
Breastfeeding exclusively delays the return of normal ovulation and
menstrual cycles. It also lowers the
risk of breast cancer and may lower the risk of ovarian cancer.
Breastfeeding is not
recommended for all mothers. Women should not
breastfeed if they take drugs, do
not control their alcohol intake or
use certain medicines such as mood stabilizers or migraine medicine. In addition, women with infections that are
transmitted through breast milk, such as HIV
or tuberculosis, also should not
breastfeed.
What’s Hot and What’s Not in Breastfeeding
Use the bolded words above to fit them into the
puzzle below.
X T
Hints: What’s
good for mom or baby - across; What’s not good for mom
or baby - down; Cow’s milk is one word, no apostrophe
Information for this article was provided by the National Women’s
To learn more about breastfeeding and other health issues
that affect women, visit the Women’s