MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) -- With August being Breastfeeding Awareness Month, the Monongalia County Health Department held the Breastfeeding Awareness Walk for the first time since 2019.

Event organizers told 12 News that breastfeeding has a number of benefits for babies including decreasing the risk of diabetes, improving brain function, and increasing antibodies. Attendees and organizers of the walk told 12 News about a number of barriers that might keep women from breastfeeding, including working it into a daily schedule with work, procuring a breast pump, and stigma from breastfeeding in public.

One of the walkers, Anne Dobnak, told 12 News that the stigma can make breast-feeding "a really lonely journey" and that she appreciates events like today's for connecting mothers with each other and a support system. "It's nice to know that support is there," Dobnak said. "Like, on our walk, we picked up people."

West Virginia WIC State Breastfeeding Coordinator Kara Napier told 12 News that in West Virginia, 70% of babies are breastfed compared to the national average of 84%. Napier added that a lot of different groups are needed to support women who choose to breastfeed, including OBGYNs, hospitals, and pediatricians.