August is recognized as National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Here at the Howell County Health Department, we celebrated early this year and had a pool party in July to kick off a month full of recognition to all our breastfeeding moms and their supporters.
We will continue to celebrate throughout August by showcasing some of our breastfeeding mothers and babies on our Facebook page, @WICandSupport.
Fun fact: Howell County’s breastfeeding rates are in the top 15 of the state. In 2025, 71% of Howell County WIC (Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program) participant mothers initiated breastfeeding, 32% were still fully breastfeeding at 6 months, and 22% were still breastfeeding at 1 year. Those are amazing numbers!
Kudos to all the breastfeeding moms out there, we are very proud of you!
The Howell County Health Department, 180 S. Kentucky Ave. in West Plains, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, with a lunchtime closure from noon to 1 p.m. daily. Call 417-256-7078 or visit www.howellcountyhealth.com for more information.
