The Texas Ten Step Star Achiever Breastfeeding Learning Collaborative: An Initiative to Improve Infant Nutrition and Care is an initiative to help Texas hospitals implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding to support women's choices concerning breastfeeding and to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates. According to the Texas Ten Step Star Achiever Regional Summary Report, in 2009, only 15 percent of infants born in South Texas were exclusively breastfed on their second day of life compared to 42 percent of infants in Texas overall. Moreover, risk for type 2 diabetes is reduced by 39% among children who were breastfed. In order to reduce health disparities, it is important to look at social and environmental factors related to disparities in breastfeeding rates. The Ten ...
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is accepting workshop proposals for the 21st Annual International Meeting, October 13-16 in Washington D.C. Workshops are 90 minutes with 20-40 attendees. Workshop formats could include: An interactive and novel approach to common challenges in the clinical practice or a focus on “hot?button” or evolving issues that are newly recognized.
A hands-on opportunity to hone a specific clinical skill, with ample time set aside for practice, interaction and discussion. If you would like to submit a proposal, apply here by Wednesday, April 5, 2016. Learn more about the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. SAVE THE DATE: The 21st Annual International Meeting is on October 13-16 in Washington D.C. Copy and Share on Twitter: Workshop ...
Less than 50% of Latina moms still breasfeed their babies by age 6 months. But when workplaces make it easier for new mothers to breastfeed by providing paid maternity leave, break-time from work or provisions for pumping Latina moms are 20% more likely to breastfeed 6 months, according to our new infographic on breastfeeding and Latino kids which is which is part of the new Salud America! Healthy Weight research package on the latest science and policy recommendations on how to ensure Latino kids reach a healthy weight by kindergarten. Share this infographic today! Salud America! is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded national Latino childhood obesity prevention network based at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, the team behind ...
This is part of our Latina Mom and Baby Health: A Research Review »
Benefits of breastfeeding
The benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby are well established in the literature, and yet breastfeeding rates in the United States remain below desired levels.38,39 According to recommendations from The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), mothers should exclusively breastfeed their infants for at least the first 6 months of life, with continuation for 1 year or longer. In addition, breastfeeding infants should not receive supplemental formula unless advised by a health care professional.39,40 As part of the Healthy People 2020 initiative, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services outlined several ...
This is part of our Latina Mom and Baby Health: A Research Review »
Limited time available for breastfeeding
Short periods of maternity leave remain a major barrier to breastfeeding, as a woman’s employment plans commonly impact her plan to breastfeed.72–77 Women who return to work before 6 weeks are over 3 times as likely to stop breastfeeding than those who return to work later than 6 weeks postpartum.78,79 In addition, the timing of breastfeeding discontinuation is closely linked with the return to work in low-income mothers.72 A mother is more than twice as likely to quit breastfeeding during the month she returns to work compared with a mother who remains on leave.72 A longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding correlates with a longer period of maternity leave.72–77 ...
Breastfeeding initiation and duration rates are lower among Latinas than whites because they face more social and environmental barriers to breastfeeding, culturally unique barriers, and lack of access to health care providers and lactation specialists. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to systematically review the documented effectiveness of clinical breastfeeding interventions among Latinas to increase breastfeeding initiatiion and duration. "The team found that interventions of moderate intensity (three to six contacts) and those that started before the baby was born and continued afterward were most effective," according to one source. Breastfeeding duration is associated with reduce risk for obesity; therefore, it is important to implement effective breastfeeding ...
Gestational diabetes, high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, afflicts about 5-9% of pregnant women nationwide and drastically increases a woman’s risk for type 2 diabetes later in life; however, breastfeeding may reduce this risk. According to a recent study conducted by a team led by Dr. Erica P. Gunderson at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, "researchers estimated that women who exclusively breastfed or mostly breastfed were about half as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as those who didn’t breastfeed." High blood sugar levels can cause a variety of health problems, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputation. In addition to reducing risk of diabetes for the mother, breastfeeding is also associated with reduced obesity rates for ...
Only 16 percent of US mothers breastfeed exclusively at six months, although it is lower for US Latina mothers. However, more than half of Brazilian mothers breastfeed exclusively at six months. Differences in breastfeeding rates are likely due to much more aggressive breastfeeding promotional efforts as well as much more social and legal support. For example, according to one source, Brazil bans the advertising or promotion of infant formula, and in March 2016, the city of São Paulo passed a municipal ordinance that fines businesses and organizations if they prevent women from breastfeeding in public. Additionally, there are over 200 milk banks across the country for women who can't produce enough breastmilk of their own. Unfortunately, many US Latino mothers face social and ...
The Barriers and Contributions to Breastfeeding in WIC Mothers: A Social Ecological Perspective study used the social ecological model to assess positive and negative factors that influence breastfeeding initiation and duration in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants in New Hampshire. Previous research has shown that Latino mothers have lower breastfeeding initiation and duration rates. In order to increase Latino mothers initiation rates and reduce Latino childhood obesity, it is important to understand interpersonal, social, and environmental factors that influence mother's breastfeeding initiation and duration, especially in programs that focus on mother and infant nutrition. Access this article here. Share on ...
