August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month and the Lawrence County WIC Office is ending the month with a baby shower for all prenatal WIC recipients.

The baby shower will be at 1 p.m. on Aug. 31 at the Early Childhood Center in South Point.

Regina Duncan, breastfeeding coordinator for the Lawrence County WIC Office, said that past events have been successful.

“It seemed to be a really good thing,” she said. “It’s to get more people interested in breastfeeding.”

She said they have begun to send out invitations.

According to a press release from Gov. Ted Strickland’s office, the health benefits of breastfeeding for infants include a 20 to 30 percent reduced risk of obesity, fewer ear and respiratory infections and a reduced risk of developing juvenile and Type 2 diabetes.

Benefits for mothers who breastfeed, according to the same press release, include a 24 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer and osteoporosis.

Economic benefits include an average infant formula cost savings of $800 per year.

“People don’t know enough about it and how easy it is,” said Duncan.

She also said that some mothers are concerned about not knowing how much their babies are getting fed during breastfeeding. She said that she tells mothers that they can bring their babies in anytime to weigh them to insure they are growing properly.

There will be special guest speakers at the baby shower, including two mothers to speak on their breastfeeding experiences and representatives from Help Me Grow and Early Head Start.

There will also be games, prizes and refreshments.

For more information, call Duncan at the Coal Grove WIC Office at 532-2646.