St. Mary’s Hospital, in association with the Southern Maryland Breastfeeding Alliance, is recognizing World Breastfeeding Week by participating in a free walk at Annemarie Gardens in Solomons on Aug. 1 at 10 a.m.  The public is invited to attend. 

Hospital educators will be on hand at the event to inform the public on the benefits of breastfeeding and how the St. Mary’s Hospital’s Breastfeeding Resource Center and lactation consultants can help. 

“We want to make sure people are informed on all the issues and make a decision they are comfortable with,” said Lori Werrell, clinical health educator and lactation consultant at St. Mary’s Hospital. 

Werrell said there are public health implications, such as increased risks for diabetes, obesity, cancer and high blood pressure if mothers do not breastfeed.  According to the United States Breastfeeding Committee, it costs about $475 per non-breastfed infant in extra health care costs to treat three common diseases during the child’s first year.

“The research is clear that breastfeeding is far superior than formula,” said Werrell.  “If you could bottle this stuff you’d make a fortune — but it’s free.”

St. Mary’s Hospital’s Health Connections offers prenatal breastfeeding classes once a month called Breastfeeding Basics where parents-to-be learn tips from an international board certified lactation consultant.  One-on-one meetings with lactation consultants are also available by appointment.  The consultants visit patients after delivery while in the hospital and make phone calls to new mothers after discharge to answer any questions and provide advice.  New mothers are also invited to a weekly Mom’s Group meeting at Health Connections every Wednesday at 10 a.m. to learn from other mothers in a relaxed, social environment.

“People think we are just supposed to know what we’re doing when we have a baby,” Werrell said.  “How would you know what you’re doing?  This is a learning process.”

For more information on the classes offered at Health Connections call 301-475-6019 or call the St. Mary’s Hospital Breastfeeding Resource Center at 301-997-6505.