Community Godmothers “Madrinas” Provide Breastfeeding Support for New Mothers

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Through funding from the W.K. Kellog Foundation, the Center for New Communities partnered with a grassroots organization in Waukegan, Ill. (53% Latino) to promote breastfeeding among Latina mothers.

Fewer Latina mothers meet their breastfeeding goals due to social and environmental barriers. For example, first-generation Latina breastfeeding rates are 46 percent, compared to 32 percent for U.S.-born Latinas.  Lack of support from hospitals and the workplace are often cited as factors that reduce breastfeeding duration.

The madrinas program developed a partnership with Waukengan’s Vista Hospital in order to be with mothers and support breastfeeding from the start. The purpose of the madrinas program is to have community “godmothers” provide breastfeeding support for new Latina mothers because they understand the needs, barriers, and languages of the culture. Madrinas assist Spanish-speaking families in accessing important information about the benefits of breastfeeding and understanding their rights as breastfeeding mothers.

Breastfeeding is associated with better health, educational, and emotional outcomes for mother and baby, including a healthier weight and reduced obesity. But when Latina mother’s don’t know the many benefits of breastfeeding, where to get support, or the laws that protect them in the workplace, they are unable to make informed decisions.

With initial funding to support grassroots organizations in developing partnerships that promote breastfeeding, like partnerships with hospitals, programs like the madrinas program can empower communities to sustain a culture of breastfeeding by working to teach the next generation of Latina mothers the maternal traditions of breastfeeding, which could reduce obesity for future generations.

Read more about this program here.