County Board Marks World Breastfeeding Week

August 21, 2014
County Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner, 608.333.3676
County Board

Resolution Touts Health Benefits, Highlights Need for Community Support

 

The Dane County Board of Supervisors on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution recognizing August 1 - 7 as World Breastfeeding Week.

 

“I feel really fortunate and privileged to have a supportive employer and my own office space, but not everyone is that fortunate,” said Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner, lead sponsor of the resolution and mother of a one-year-old. “It’s still not easy. We can always improve. We can always do more to support this natural and beneficial practice.”

 

The resolution notes that communities that support breastfeeding mothers create a more productive workforce, improved household income and more empowered women, but advocates say more community support is needed.

 

“We don’t make it easy for moms in this culture. This is not an easy time or an easy place to breastfeed,” said Laura Berger, president of the Board of Directors of the Breastfeeding Coalition of South Central Wisconsin. “The County is really exceptional in this regard.”

 

“As an adoptive parent of an eight month old, I appreciate that we live in a community that supports a range of healthy options for kids,” said Supervisor Jeff Pertl, who co-sponsored the resolution. “Reducing the stigma and judgment around parenting decisions will lead to happier, healthier families."

 

The full text of the resolution is below.

 

RECOGNIZING WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK 2014

WHEREAS breastfeeding is recognized as the normative way to feed infants, and that

infants who are breastfed for 6 months and beyond have significant lifelong health advantages

over those who are not; and

 

WHEREAS mothers who are successful at meeting their breastfeeding goals are more

likely to be surrounded by a supportive team of family, friends, coworkers, employers,

healthcare providers, childcare providers, and other members of the community; and

 

WHEREAS communities that create such positive and supportive environments reap the

benefits of healthier babies and mothers, a more productive workforce, improved household

finances, and empowered women; and

 

WHEREAS fostering the development of communities of health and dignity, especially for

mothers and children, is the vision of the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations;

and

 

WHEREAS World Breastfeeding Week 2014 celebrates the vital role of Team Breastfeed

in helping families achieve their breastfeeding goals with the theme, “Breastfeeding: A Winning

Goal for Life!”

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Dane County Board of Supervisors

hereby recognizes 1-7 August 2014 as World Breastfeeding Week 2014, and urges all citizens

to join Team Breastfeed and cheer on the efforts of mothers, babies, and families; and

 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be presented to Janel

Heinrich, Director of Public Health Madison Dane County; Laura Berger, President, Board of

Directors of Breastfeeding Coalition of South Central, WI; WI Department of Health Services,

Secretary Kitty Rhoades and WI Department of Children and Families, Secretary Eloise

Anderson.

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