For nearly all infants, breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition and immunologic protection, and it provides remarkable health benefits to mothers as well. Many mothers in the United States want to breastfeed, and most try. Yet within only three months after giving birth, more than two thirds of breastfeeding mothers have already begun using formula. By six months postpartum, more than half of mothers have given up on breastfeeding. This Call to Action describes specific steps people can take to participate in a society-wide approach to support mothers and babies who are breastfeeding. It provides recommendations for women and families, communities, health care providers, employers, public health agencies, and researchers.
Topic: Breastfeeding
Ask the Expert: Postpartum Care
This webinar will focus on important postpartum issues, including maintaining physical and emotional health, breastfeeding, reproductive life planning, and care of the newborn.
Webinar Materials:
MothertoBaby
MothertoBaby is the leading authority providing up-to-date, evidence-based information to mothers, healthcare professionals, and the general public regarding the effects of medications and other exposures on pregnancy and breastfeeding. The website contains fact sheets in English and Spanish covering the risks of over 50 pharmaceuticals (listed alphabetically), herbal products, and other common lifestyle and occupational exposures. Excellent sections on tobacco, alcohol, and mood-altering drugs are included, as well as information on the safety of vaccines during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Experts are also available to answer individual questions confidentially by telephone, email, or text.
Alcohol/Drug Services Breastfeeding Immunization Prenatal Care and Education Risk Assessment Tobacco Cessation
New Benefits for Breastfeeding Moms: Facts and Tools to Understand Your Coverage under the Health Care Law
This toolkit is designed for women, advocates, community-based organizations, and health care providers to provide information on the coverage of breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling in the health care law (Affordable Care Act) and offer tools to women who encounter problems with this coverage. The toolkit also includes detailed instructions on how to call insurance companies, how to file an appeal if the plan denies coverage, and provides draft appeal letters tailored to commonly encountered scenarios.
Healthy Start Regional Meeting (LA, AL, MS, AR)
Meeting Materials:
- Regional Meeting Information
- Healthy Start Year II – Direction and Priorities | EPIC Center Services Handout | EPIC Center Slides
- Preconception/Interconception Care Communication Planning Workshop | Slides | Communications Plan Handout | Grantees Communication Showcase
- Overview of Healthy Start Data Reporting | Slides
- Healthy Start Monitoring and Evaluation: Best practices, Evidence building, and Case-based solutions | Slides
- National Infant Mortality CoIIN Update | Slides
- State Title V MCH Program & Healthy Start Collaboration | Slides | Handout
Breastfeeding Case Management/Care Coordination Program evaluation Quality Improvement Social Determinants of Health
VDH: Impact of Domestic Violence on Perinatal Health Outcomes (Project Connect Training Module 3)
This module, part of the blended learning series, Project Connect: Creating Futures Without Violence, covers the impact of domestic violence on perinatal health outcomes. Improving perinatal and birth outcomes are core goals for many home visitation programs. This module makes the connection between pregnancy and domestic violence including associated risk behaviors around the time of pregnancy that are associated with poor birth outcomes, low birth weight, interference with breastfeeding, and postpartum depression.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify at least three effects of domestic violence on women’s risk behaviors during pregnancy
- List at least two effects of domestic violence on birth outcomes
- Describe the connection between domestic violence and breastfeeding
Grow and Glow in WIC
This standardized competency-based curriculum was developed to ensure that all staff attain a level of proficiency in the skills required to promote and support breastfeeding in the WIC setting.
Implementation of Healthy Maternity Policies
This webinar highlights successful strategies and best practices that have been implemented in the North Dakota and Nevada state health agencies to encourage breastfeeding and to help new parents return to work. In addition, Virginia describes how they work with businesses in their state to develop breastfeeding policies.
Learning Objectives:
- Provide an overview of ASTHO’s environmental scan of worksite wellness programs and policies in state health agencies
- Provide examples of how state health agencies can support and implement effective healthy maternity policies within their department.
- Provide examples of how state health agencies can support local business to develop and implement their own healthy maternity policies.
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
ACOG is a professional and membership organization of women’s health care physicians. ACOG’s website includes resources and information for providers on practice management, continuing education, and advocacy, as well as resources for patients.
Breastfeeding Early Elective Delivery Prenatal Care and Education Reproductive Life Planning/Family Planning
Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP)
AHRP brings together healthcare professionals across disciplines and specialties for evidence-based training and network building. The website includes professional education opportunities, publications and resources on reproductive health topics, and advocacy information.
Breastfeeding Early Elective Delivery Prenatal Care and Education Reproductive Life Planning/Family Planning