Public Health News & Alerts

Breastfeeding provides lifelong benefits for both mother and child, including creating a closer bond between the two.

Studies have shown that babies who are breastfed:

• Are less likely to develop allergies
• Have fewer ear infections
• Have better dental health
• Reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• Are less likely to grow up overweight or develop diabetes later in life

Studies have shown breastfeeding benefits for the mother include:

• Weight loss support after birth
• Lower chances of postpartum depression and anxiety
• Fewer pre-menopausal cancers, like ovarian and breast cancer
• Lower risk of high blood pressure
• Lower risk of type 2 diabetes
• Less incidence of osteoporosis later in life

The WIC Program helps with breastfeeding, as well as providing access to infant formula. To learn more about the WIC Program and how to qualify for a free electric breast pump, call 502-574-5978 or visit Louisville WIC.  For breastfeeding support, you can call LMPHW at 502-574-6511. You can also find additional resources in Jefferson County on our breastfeeding support page.

Did you know that our Healthy Start program is one of only 101 federally funded Healthy Start projects across the U.S.? The program focuses on reducing infant mortality rates in under resourced areas of the city where infant mortality rates are more than twice as high as others and among families at greatest risk for poor birth outcomes.

Nurses, resource workers and social workers visit families in their homes to help ensure moms get prenatal and postpartum care, screenings for depression, mental health supportive care, and parenting coaching. The program also includes education and support for fathers.

Healthy Start has resources workers that help get moms to prenatal visits with their healthcare provider, equipment such as Pack and Plays so babies have a safe place to sleep, and they provide breastfeeding support. Healthy Start works with families throughout the pregnancy and until the child is 18 months old.  

“The Healthy Start program helped me to be more educated on the ages and stages of my children and offered support for me and my children if and when we needed it. It was nice to have a support system through the program since we have no family locally.” -Amanda, a recent program participant.

Last year, Healthy Start served 807 families.  If you are pregnant and live in ZIP codes 40203, 40208, 40210, 40211 and 40212, call us at 502-574-MOM1 (502-574-6661) or email us at healthystart@louisvilleky.gov.