FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2008
Contact: , Austin Public Library, (512) 974-7379
Fax: (512) 974-7442

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Summer 2008 Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign

In honor of World Breastfeeding Day, August 1, the City of Austin WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program launches a Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign to highlight Austin’s breastfeeding resources. The campaign includes interactive public response boxes about breastfeeding experiences, advertising on Capitol Metro buses, and free breastfeeding classes at Little Walnut, Southeast Austin Community, Carver, and Ruiz Branch Libraries.

The “I breastfeed because…” program asks the community about its breastfeeding experiences. All Austin Public Libraries, WIC offices, hospitals, and maternity and baby retail stores, will have a collection box with “I Breastfeed because…” response cards where parents can write about their breastfeeding experiences. The responses will be used on posters in WIC offices and as public advertisement on city buses.

In partnership with WIC, the Austin Public Library hosts public breastfeeding classes at the Little Walnut, Southeast Austin Community, Carver, and Ruiz Branches during the months of June, July, and August. Each one hour class teaches parents why breastfeeding is more than providing food for a baby. Breast milk is designed to protect babies from illness and help them grow normally. It is also loving and nurturing, the cornerstone of good parenting. Classes are free and require no registration. WIC is providing one Spanish language class and one English language class per month at each of the four library branches. For times and dates, please refer to the calendar below.

For more information about breastfeeding or breastfeeding classes please call (512) 972-6862 or visit http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/wichd/bf/bfpublic.shtm.

SP = Spanish Language Class
EN = English Language Class

Carver Branch, 1161 Angelina St.
Little Walnut Creek Branch, 835 W. Rundberg Ln.
Ruiz Branch, 1600 Grove Blvd.
Southeast Austin Community Branch , 5803 Nuckols Crossing Rd.

Breastfeeding is the Best Choice

Good nutrition is important throughout our lives. It is especially important during infancy and childhood because of its effect on growth and development. Breast milk is good nutrition. It protects a baby from illness and infection and promotes brain development. Many of the important ingredients in breast milk are not found in formula or “artificial baby milk”. Breast milk is very easily digested and changes daily to meet a baby’s nutritional needs. It also helps in other ways. Breastfeeding creates a close emotional bond between the mother and baby. It improves babies’ oral and facial development and it lowers a mother’s risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis later in life.

WIC — Women, Infants and Children Program

WIC is a nutrition program that helps pregnant women, new mothers, and young children eat well, learn about nutrition, and stay healthy. Nutrition education and counseling, nutritious foods, and help accessing health care are provided to low-income women, infants, and children through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program, popularly known as WIC. For information on how to apply for WIC Call (toll free): 1 (800) 942-3678 or click HERE for more information about the program.

The Department of State Health Services runs the Texas WIC program and provides funds to agencies across the state that run local WIC offices. All kinds of agencies offer WIC services such as local health departments, county and city agencies, migrant health centers, community action agencies, and hospitals.

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