County Board Marks World Breastfeeding Week
August 21, 2014
County Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner, 608.333.3676
County Board
Resolution Touts Health Benefits, Highlights Need for Community Support
The Dane County Board of Supervisors on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution recognizing August 1 - 7 as World Breastfeeding Week.
“I feel really fortunate and privileged to have a supportive employer and my own office space, but not everyone is that fortunate,” said Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner, lead sponsor of the resolution and mother of a one-year-old. “It’s still not easy. We can always improve. We can always do more to support this natural and beneficial practice.”
The resolution notes that communities that support breastfeeding mothers create a more productive workforce, improved household income and more empowered women, but advocates say more community support is needed.
“We don’t make it easy for moms in this culture. This is not an easy time or an easy place to breastfeed,” said Laura Berger, president of the Board of Directors of the Breastfeeding Coalition of South Central Wisconsin. “The County is really exceptional in this regard.”
“As an adoptive parent of an eight month old, I appreciate that we live in a community that supports a range of healthy options for kids,” said Supervisor Jeff Pertl, who co-sponsored the resolution. “Reducing the stigma and judgment around parenting decisions will lead to happier, healthier families."
The full text of the resolution is below.
RECOGNIZING WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK 2014
WHEREAS breastfeeding is recognized as the normative way to feed infants, and that
infants who are breastfed for 6 months and beyond have significant lifelong health advantages
over those who are not; and
WHEREAS mothers who are successful at meeting their breastfeeding goals are more
likely to be surrounded by a supportive team of family, friends, coworkers, employers,
healthcare providers, childcare providers, and other members of the community; and
WHEREAS communities that create such positive and supportive environments reap the
benefits of healthier babies and mothers, a more productive workforce, improved household
finances, and empowered women; and
WHEREAS fostering the development of communities of health and dignity, especially for
mothers and children, is the vision of the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations;
and
WHEREAS World Breastfeeding Week 2014 celebrates the vital role of Team Breastfeed
in helping families achieve their breastfeeding goals with the theme, “Breastfeeding: A Winning
Goal for Life!”
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Dane County Board of Supervisors
hereby recognizes 1-7 August 2014 as World Breastfeeding Week 2014, and urges all citizens
to join Team Breastfeed and cheer on the efforts of mothers, babies, and families; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be presented to Janel
Heinrich, Director of Public Health Madison Dane County; Laura Berger, President, Board of
Directors of Breastfeeding Coalition of South Central, WI; WI Department of Health Services,
Secretary Kitty Rhoades and WI Department of Children and Families, Secretary Eloise
Anderson.
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