Breastfeeding is a scientifically proven way to reduce risk of disease and create a healthy future for kids and moms. But not all moms get breastfeeding support they need. Latina moms especially have less support for breastfeeding in hospitals, the workplace, and early child care settings than their white peers, according to a new Rivard Report article by Amanda Merck of Salud America!, a national Latino child health network funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and based at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. Merck's article highlights ways to increase breastfeeding support for Latina and all moms: Baby Café. Norma Sifuentes and Diana Montano, two San Antonio health workers, took advantage of a funding opportunity to create Baby Café. The facility is a ...
By Amanda Merck, Salud America! Many studies show that breastfeeding can positively impact a child’s physical and mental development and even reduce the risk of childhood obesity. Unfortunately, many Latina mothers barriers in access to breastfeeding support: participation in federal food assistance programs that offer free infant formula, pain/discomfort, embarrassment, employment, inconvenience, lack of maternal access to breastfeeding information, not being properly instructed on how to breastfeed by hospital staff, and other cultural, social, economic, political, and psychosocial factors. Breastfeeding mothers need to feel safe, supported and welcome to nurse or pump in all public spaces in order to meet their own personal breastfeeding goals. Let’s use #SaludTues on ...
Regardless of weight status, proper nutrition-starting as early as breastfeeding-has long been associated with positive health outcomes. A new study, published in July 2016, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, UCSF, found that exclusive breastfeeding rates among Latino infants ages 4-6 weeks is associated with longer Telomeres when the children were evaluated at age 4 or 5. Additionally, children who drank soda four or more times weekly showed a much faster rate of telomere shortening than children who drank less or no soda. What are telomeres and what role do they play in our health? Telomeres are the protective bits of DNA that cap the ends of chromosomes in cells and are measured in white blood cells. As we age, our white blood cells aren't as effective at ...
Breastfeeding rates are low along the El Paso/Juarez border. Ruth Lawrence, MD, Summit Chair and former editor-in-chief of Breastfeeding Medicine, gave a presentation developed by Rosalba Ruiz-Holguin, MD, MPH, project coordinator and chair of the Alliance for Border Collaboratives/Binational Breastfeeding Coalition in El Paso, Texas, at the Eighth Annual Summit on Breastfeeding. In this video, Lawrence addresses some barriers that breastfeeding mothers face, including: less schooling, no prenatal care, no education about breastfeeding, no maternity leave, low incomes, no access to healthcare, having a C-section, unsupportive husbands, cultural beliefs, and having lived in the U.S. for more than 5 years. Experts in the field, as well as many non-traditional partners, must address ...
Sustainable development is essentially about ecology, economy, and equity. The World Breastfeeding Week 2016 aims to firmly anchor breastfeeding as a key component of sustainable development. World Breastfeeding Week is coordinated by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and global network of individuals and organizations concerned with the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding worldwide. Breastfeeding is one element in getting us to think about how to value our wellbeing from the start of life, how to respect each other and care for the world we share. Access and download WABA's World Breastfeeding Week 2016 free materials in English, Spanish, and many other languages to be prepared to talk breastfeeding and sustainable development: Poverty ...
The Michigan Breastfeeding Network (MIBFN) develops and supports education programs, materials, and conferences that encourage breastfeeding in Michigan (4.9% Latino). One method is through their MI Breastfeeding-Friendly Business Project initiative to recognize companies in compliance with the federal Break Time for Nursing Mothers legislation and celebrate employers that go above and beyond federal requirements to support families. MIFBFN recognizes newly awarded businesses and creates positive press to encourage current, and future employees, clients, patients, patrons, stakeholders, partners, and all of Michigan to support businesses that support working families. MIBFN provides a press release to distribute to local media outlets; provides a sample article for the ...
In recognition of National Minority Health Month, Breastfeeding Medicine is providing FREE access to a selection of high-impact articles now addressing minority health disparities. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Breastfeeding
Katherine M. Jones, Michael L. Power, John T. Queenan, Jay Schulkin Changing the Breastfeeding Conversation and Our Culture
Gail C. Christopher, Joanne K. Krell Barriers to Breastfeeding in the African American Population of Shelby County, Tennessee
Julie L. Ware, Larita Webb, Marian Levy Impact of Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Sociocultural Factors on Early Breastfeeding in an Urban, Predominantly Dominican Community
Melissa E. Glassman, Karen McKearney, Minna Saslaw, Dana R. Sirota Prepregnancy Obesity and Breastfeeding Noninitiation in the ...
Alena Clark and Yvette Lucero-Nguyen worried that their University of Northern Colorado campus wasn’t breastfeeding-friendly for employees or students. So they worked with faculty, staff, and students to increase awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding. They coordinated with different departments on campus to establish three Lactation Stations to provide breastfeeding parents a private, comfortable place to express breast milk or breastfeed. They also drafted an institution-wide written policy for breastfeeding support to protect employees and students.
University Employees and Students Without Breastfeeding Privacy
In spring 2011, Alena Clark, Nutrition and Dietetics Associate Professor at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC), where about 18% of undergraduates ...
BooneOakley, an ad agency in Charlotte, N.C., created a campaign promote breastfeeding that provides "100% Natural," "Locally Grown," and "Guaranteed Fresh" stickers as well as posters of women donning the stickers to any "baby-friendly" hospital. The stickers come with three different health messages: Reduces the risk of obesity by 24%
Reduces the risk of SIDS by 36%
Reduces the risk of asthma by 24% The idea is that "100% Natural" stickers reminds mothers that the best nutrition for their baby is breast milk. The stickers can also help nursing mothers keep track of which breast to feed their baby from next. The first hospital to use the stickers and posters is the Women and Babies Hospital in Lancaster, PA. Normalizing breastfeeding and encouraging nursing mothers ...
