NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC – As National Breastfeeding Month begins, the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) team with New Hanover County Health and Human Services is working to share information on the nutritional advantages of breastfeeding for newborn children.
To help families understand what options are best for them, staff from New Hanover County’s WIC program are available for in-person appointments to discuss the department's supplemental nutrition program, which serves mothers with children 5 years or younger and provides access to healthy foods, breastfeeding support and other crucial resources.
"Decades of research has shown how beneficial breastfeeding can be for both the child and the mother. Breastfeeding reduces a child's risk of developing asthma, obesity, Type 1 diabetes, ear infections, and more. For the mother, it can lower the risk of developing high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and breast cancer, among other health benefits,” said Nutrition Services Supervisor Anne Wrenn. “This will be the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that we are offering in-person consultations to families, and we’re so excited to work with them to help provide their children with everything they need for a solid foundation.”
In addition to discussing the benefits of breastfeeding and providing guidance on positive nutritional habits, WIC staff will also offer information for health-related referrals as needed. Appointments, which will take place at the Health and Human Services building (1600 Greenfield Street), can be made by calling 910-798-3400.
For more information about the WIC program and breastfeeding support, please visit Health.NHCgov.com.