Santa Fe Breaastfeeding Task Force

WHO WE ARE
The Santa Fe Breastfeeding Task Force is one of seventeen local chapters of the New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force, a committee of the NM Pediatric Society, and a coalition bringing together all persons in New Mexico interested in increasing the incidence of breastfeeding.

WHAT WE DO
"BREASTFEEDING WELCOME HERE/DAMOS LA BIENVENIDA A LAS MADRES QUE ANANANTAN" campaign through Santa Fe County, City and public businesses and restaurants. Decals that state "Breastfeeding Welcome Here/ Damos la Bienvenida a las Madres que Amamantan" and include the NM Taskforce website, have been posted in 57 SF County buildings, and our accompanying pamphlets describing the importance of supporting breastfeeding have been distributed to over 450 County employees, and 1400 City of Santa Fe employees. To receive these materials, email image@q.com.

THE SANTA FE BREASTFEEDING TASK FORCE COLLABORATES WITH:
•The Santa Fe County Maternal and Child Health Planning Council
       http://www.santafecounty.org/hhsd/maternal_and_child_health.php
•The New Mexico Departent of Health WIC Program
•St. Vincent Hospital
•The New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force
•La Familia Medical Center
• La Leche League of Santa Fe
•Licensed Midwives
•Certified Lactation Consultants
•Pediatricians, Family Practice Physicians, OB/GYNs, Nurses

THE SANTA FE BREASTFEEDING TASK FORCE RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM:
• The Santa Fe County Maternal and Child Health Council
        http://www.santafecounty.org/hhsd/maternal_and_child_health.php

•NM Department of Health WIC Program
         http://www.health.state.nm.us/phd/wicsite/index.php

•NM Breastfeeding Taskforce

HOW TO GET INVOLVED•
•The Santa Fe Breastfeeding Task Force holds monthly meetings on the first Wednesday of every month at the Santa Fe County Health Office Conference Room, noon - 1pm.
•For the most up-to-date information, join our email list, by emailing to image@q.com

WHY BREASTFEEDING?
Breastfed children:
•Score higher on cognitive and IQ tests at school age and also on tests of visual acuity.
•Have a lower incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
•Are less likely to suffer from infectious illnesses and their symptoms (e.g. diarrhea, ear infections, •espiratory tract infections, meningitis)
•Suffer less often from some forms of cancer (e.g. Hodgkin's disease, childhood leukemia)
•Have a lower risk of juvenile onset diabetes
•Are significantly protected against asthma and eczema
•May have a lower risk of obesity in childhood and adolescence
•Have fewer cavities and are less likely to require braces.

For premature infants, human milk
•Significantly shortens length of hospital stay
•Reduces hospital costs
•Hastens brainstem maturation
•Reduces the risk of life-threatening disease of the gastrointestinal system and other infectious diseases

Breastfeeding benefits mothers:
•They are less likely to develop ovarian and breast cancers
•Breastfeeding reduces osteoporosis
•Breastfeeding mothers enjoy a quicker recovery after childbirth with reduced risk of postpartum bleeding.
•Breastfeeding reduces the risk for long-term obesity.

•Breastfeeding contributes to feelings of attachment between a mother and her child. (United States Breastfeeding Committee, 2002.) The kinds of attachments children form at age one can predict later outcomes such as quality of peer relationships, social competency and school achievements. (Heffron, Marie Claire. Presentation to the Santa Fe community on November 18, 1999.)

•Families and our citizens save money in formula and related expenses, health care costs, reduced absenteeism from work and more.

•Breastfeeding is good for the environment: for every 3 million bottle-fed babies, there are 450 million tins of formula used, resulting in 70,000 tons of metal trash.

(Source: United States Breastfeeding Committee. Benefits of breastfeeding. [issue paper]. Raleigh, NC: United States Breastfeeding Committee; 2002