As the month of August draws to a close, pediatricians at SouthCoast Health aim to raise awareness of breastfeeding to mothers and families year-round.
August is known as National Breastfeeding Month, which was first recognized by the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee back in 2011. Throughout the month, various medical providers and health professionals reach out to educate mothers and families about the benefits of breastfeeding, as well as provide needed support and resources.
“Breastfeeding has benefits for both the mother and the infant,” said Dr. Jenna Sirmans, a pediatrician at SouthCoast Richmond Hill who is also a certified lactation consultant.
“For the infant, breast milk is specifically designed to meet their specific nutritional needs and is very well-balanced. For moms, breastfeeding also helps in the postpartum recovery, because it helps reduce their bleeding and returns the uterus to its pre-pregnancy size, as well lowering her risk for certain cancers,” Sirmans explained.
“Breastfeeding also helps prevent acute illnesses, because moms pass their maternal antibodies through the breast milk, which can [also] help in preventing chronic diseases like asthma, eczema, Type 1 diabetes, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome [SIDS].”
At SouthCoast Health’s Richmond Hill office, Sirmans works with mothers seeking help and advice on breastfeeding their child, giving tips on positioning, helping the baby latch on to the nipple, and dealing with nipple pain and how to address potential cracks or injuries.
But giving support and encouragement to newly-breastfeeding mothers is Dr. Sirmans’ biggest aim when working as a lactation consultant.
“I think the biggest thing that I look at is that I'm supposed to be a cheerleader on their breastfeeding journey, because breastfeeding truly is a journey, and it's not easy, and for a lot of moms, it's super emotional and a sensitive subject,” said Sirmans. “I’d say that’s probably the biggest component of my job.”
For more information on breastfeeding or to consult the lactation speciality, call the SouthCoast Richmond Hill pediatric office at (912) 527-5352 or visit at 89 Interchange Drive, Richmond Hill, Georgia, 31324. Office hours are Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.