August is breast-feeding month in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD — August is Breast-feeding Promotion Month in Illinois.

Gov. Pat Quinn has designated the month to increase public awareness about how some mothers feed their children.

Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary Michelle Saddler says the state supports and encourages breast-feeding. She also says it wants to remove the stigma that is sometimes associated with the practice.

The department says it promotes breast-feeding though the Women, Infants and Children food assistance program and a peer counselor program that helps women who want to breast-feed their babies.

Breast-feeding is not only being recognized in Illinois. The state recognition coincides with World Breast-feeding Week, which runs until Sunday.