August is here and that means National Breastfeeding Month, a time to celebrate and promote the benefits of breastfeeding for families and communities alike. We want to celebrate the work of Asheville and Buncombe County, North Carolina, a community with a strong history of advocating for breastfeeding rights and support.
On July 16, 2019, Buncombe County was proudly proclaimed a Breastfeeding Friendly Community. This proclamation is the result of tireless efforts by individuals and organizations within the community to promote and support breastfeeding. The mission is clear – to provide support for breastfeeding in areas with the lowest rates and make the entire community more breastfeeding-friendly.
In the spirit of National Breastfeeding Month, we are highlighting the work of our community partners. In Buncombe County, an important community partner is the Buncombe County Partnership for Children (BPFC). In partnership with Buncombe County Health and Human Services and the Buncombe County Breastfeeding Coalition, BPFC works to make the county a breastfeeding-friendly community. They emphasize that supporting breastfeeding supports healthy families, which in turn strengthens the community and workforce. BPFC also has launched the Shaping Buncombe initiative to improve early childhood health. This program focuses on promoting healthy eating, physical activity, farm-to-preschool, oral health, improved outdoor play spaces, and breastfeeding for children ages birth to five in 4 & 5 star childcare programs. Shaping Buncombe helps childcare programs create healthier environments and policies. They also provide technical assistance, coaching, and training for child care programs wanting to improve practices, including their breastfeeding practices. Find more information about Shaping Buncombe at: https://buncombepfc.org/for-professionals/shaping-buncombe/.
We also are excited to highlight the work of Nursing Mamas’ Advocate and want to give a special shout out to Melissa Henry. Melissa Henry is a mother of 8 and passionate Breastfeeding Advocate 4 Life, as her email signature thoughtfully states. Her dedication and work have played a crucial role in making Buncombe County a more breastfeeding-friendly community.
Nursing Mamas’ Advocate in Buncombe County works to provide breastfeeding advocacy and strives to create a society where nursing mamas feel safe and able to feed their babies whenever needed. During National Breastfeeding Month, Nursing Mamas’ Advocate announced that they have partnered with Asheville Integrative Acupuncture to support nursing parents in their breastfeeding.
How can acupuncture support breastfeeding? Acupuncture can also support anxiety, stress, postpartum depression, and fatigue, which is especially helpful for mamas who are nursing throughout the night.
Integrative Acupuncture
We are grateful for the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in advocating for and supporting breastfeeding in Buncombe County. Let’s celebrate National Breastfeeding Month together and continue our collective efforts to make our community a welcoming and supportive place for breastfeeding families.
Let’s continue to support and encourage breastfeeding in all communities!