By Mary-Kathryn Craft
DHEC’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program encourages moms to breastfeed their babies for the best start.
But it isn’t always easy, especially when moms must return to work, school or have premature babies still in the hospital. That’s why WIC offers an array of support services ranging from one-on-one help from peer counselors in the hospital shortly after mom gives birth to ongoing classes, support groups and encouraging phone calls and text messages.
Breastfeeding, which is being highlighted in August with National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, improves health by protecting moms and babies from a variety of diseases. It also is an effective way to fight childhood obesity.
WIC breastfeeding peer counselors, certified lactation counselors, registered dietitians and other staff this summer completed training on the latest in breastfeeding research and best practices on how to teach moms effective ways to use a breast pump.
More than 180 staff members from throughout the state attended the trainings held in Florence, Greenville, Lexington, and Walterboro.
For more information on breastfeeding resources and support from WIC, visit this page.
Find a WIC clinic near you here.
To find an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant near you, visit this site.
Live Healthy S.C. 
I learned something interesting from this. I had no idea that breast feeding could do anything to help the mother with disease. After reading your article, I did a little more research and discovered that breastfeeding helps to prevent breast, ovarian and uterine cancer.
Breastfeeding can reduce the risk of breast cancer by up to 91 percent. Depending on the length of time they feed and the number of children that a woman has had, it can reduce ovarian cancer risks by anywhere between 63 and 90 percent.
I know from first-hand experience that this can help build emotional bonds, but I had no idea of the health benefits.