On Thursday, Philadelphia's new health commissioner, Donald Schwartz, and Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Calvin Johnson both identified breast-feeding as the first step in the prevention of overweight and obesity issues in children. Getting the right words spoken aloud is the first step.

Now what Pennsylvania families need is action. Doctors, nurses and WIC counselors need to be trained to assist normal mothers and babies with breast-feeding. Lactation consultants should be available for difficult situations. Philadelphia families need to have enough places where babies can be born. More access to midwives would be wonderful, too, and cost-effective.

Then, breast-feeding moms need to be welcome anywhere, including at home, at school, on the job, and just getting around in public. Our goal should be exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months, and that takes support from the whole community.

Chris Mulford
Swarthmore
chrismulfo@comcast.net

Visit MCC's Breastfeeding website for more information!