T.J. Samson | Destination Health | April 2019

6 DESTINATION HEALTH When it comes to feeding your baby, Mother Nature knows best. Breast milk has just what a baby needs to grow and thrive. Plus, breastfeeding is good for you too. Here are some of the benefits you’ll both enjoy. FOR YOUR BABY Breast milk has the right mix of protein, fat, sugar and water. And it’s easy for a baby to digest. Breast milk also helps protect your baby from illness, such as ear infection. It lowers the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syn- drome). And breastfed babies have a lower risk for problems like asthma and diabetes later in life. FOR YOU Breastfeeding your baby may help you burn calories. And you may lose baby weight more quickly. Plus, it can lower your risk for breast cancer, diabetes and other illnesses. And don’t forget all that bonding time with your little one. It’s priceless. Sign up for our prenatal classes, which include information on breastfeeding. Call 270-659-5919. Breastfeeding: Good for baby and for you WAYS AND MEANS Get ready to breastfeed before your baby arrives. Take a childbirth class. You’ll learn great tips on how to feed your baby. Know that it can take some time for you and your baby to get the hang of things. Talk to a lactation consultant for help. Your health care provider can also help. Be sure to go to your checkups after your baby is born too. Your provider will check your overall health. And you can ask any ques- tions you still have about breastfeeding. It’s best to give your baby breast milk for as long as possible—a year or more. If you have to go back to work, don’t worry. You can pump breast milk so your baby can have it in a bottle when you are at work. No matter how long or short a time you breastfeed your baby, be glad you did. You’ll know you gave your baby a great start. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; March of Dimes; National Institutes of Health Children’s Health Immunization schedule These are general recommendations. Talk with your doctor about what is right for your child. VACCINES CHILDREN AND TEENS NEED { BIRTH TO 18 YEARS } DTaP = diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) Flu = influenza HepA = hepatitis A HepB = hepatitis B Hib = Haemophilus influenzae type b HPV = human papillomavirus IPV = polio MenACWY = meningococcal A, C, W, Y MenB = meningococcal B MMR = measles, mumps, rubella PCV13 = pneumococcal PPSV23 = pneumococcal RV = rotavirus Tdap = tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis VAR = varicella (chickenpox) * Needed in some cases Range of routinely recommended ages Range for certain high-risk groups Range for catch-up immunizations Range for non-high-risk groups subject to doctor’s advice BIRTH MONTHS YEARS 0 1 2 4 6 9 12 15 18 19–23 2–3 4–6 7–10 11–12 13–15 16 17–18 HepB HepB HepB HepB HepB series RV RV RV* DTaP DTaP DTaP DTaP DTaP DTaP DTaP Tdap Tdap Hib Hib Hib* Hib Hib* Hib Hib PCV13 PCV13 PCV13 PCV13 PCV13 PCV13 PCV13 PPSV23 IPV IPV IPV IPV IPV IPV series Flu, yearly (1 or 2 doses) Flu, yearly MMR MMR MMR MMR MMR series VAR VAR VAR VAR series MenACWY series Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019) HepA series MenACWY series HPV series HPV MenB HepA series Tdap