Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 23 · column 1 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
By Laurae Lyster-Mensh
Times-Democrat Writer
If you knew of an elixir with magical powers to improve the health of any child who consumes it, reduces future dental bills, and even raises your child’s IQ, would you buy it?
How much would you pay for a prescription that could strengthen a mother’s bones, protect her from future cancers, and bring her closer to her new baby?
It seems unbelievable, but this miraculous fluid does exist: and it’s free.
All new mothers are told: breast-feeding is “best.” What most of us don’t know is how much better it really is.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has called breastfeeding “as important to preventive pediatric health care as promoting immunizations, car seat use, and proper infant sleep position.”
Breast-feeding is recommended by the AAP, the USDA, the Surgeon General, the World Health Organization, and the American Dietetic Association as the sole source of nutrition and fluid for infants up to six months of age.
Currently, only 62 percent of new American mothers plan to breast-feed at the time of hospital discharge and less than 30 percent are still nursing at six months. In Virginia, the rates are slightly lower.
The USDA estimates Americans could save $3.6 billion on health care alone if the
96.5%