Breastfeeding moms need support

Many moms stop breastfeeding before the recommended six months postpartum. In a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42 percent of nursing moms stopped breastfeeding within the first month. And a third of them had abandoned plans to exclusively breastfeed by the time they left the hospital.

Why? Because many mothers who want to breastfeed don’t always get the support they need. Dr. Gail Christopher, contributor to the Huffington Post, recently wrote an article referencing The W.K. Kellogg Foundation survey of 1,300 Americans about their opinions on breastfeeding.

“By wide margins, majorities said we need systemic changes to support nursing moms,” says Christopher. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding outlines steps we can all take to remove the obstacles faced by women who want to breastfeed.

• 71% of respondents said it would be "very helpful" to have clean, private spaces in malls, restaurants, and other public places where women can go to breastfeed their children.
• 61%of respondents said it would be "very helpful" for workplaces to support breastfeeding mothers by giving them time and space to pump, and a place to store breastmilk.

Support from the Healthcare Community

Most births in the United States occur in a hospital, but practices and policies in maternity settings can sometimes create barriers in supporting a mom’s decision to breastfeed. Healthcare community members can:

• Ensure more hospitals incorporate the recommendations of UNICEF/WHO’s Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.
• Provide breastfeeding education for health clinicians who care for women and children.
• Provide access to International Board Certified Lactation Consultants.

Support from Employers

Working moms tend to be less likely to initiate breastfeeding, and they generally nurse for a shorter length of time than those who aren't employed. Employers can:

• Start and maintain high-quality lactation support programs for employees.
• Provide clean places for mothers to breastfeed other than bathrooms.

Support from Community Leaders

The communities we live, work, and play in can influence a mother’s ability to begin - and continue - to breastfeed. Community leaders can:

• Strengthen programs that provide mother-to-mother support and peer counseling.
• Use community organizations to promote and support breastfeeding.

Support from Family and Friends

Encouraging women to talk about their desire and plans to breastfeed is crucial. Family members and friends can play a critical support role:  By assisting in decision making about how the little one is fed, and providing support for breastfeeding once the baby is born. Family and friends can:

• Give moms the support and encouragement they need to breastfeed. Tell them they are doing a good job, offer to get them snacks or water,  or do the chores around the house.
• Take advantage of programs to educate fathers, and other members of the family, about breastfeeding.

Support from Policymakers

Within the federal government there are a number of agencies that have developed programs that directly or indirectly affect breastfeeding. Their work is valuable, but if there was a federal inter-agency work group on breastfeeding, coordination and collaboration among the agencies would be enhanced, and support would be improved.

Also, although there is a lot of research on breastfeeding, significant knowledge gaps are evident. Policymakers can: The decision to breastfeed is personal, but the success rate among mothers who want to nurse can be greatly improved through active support from their families, friends, communities, healthcare leaders, employers, and policy makers.  

• Support compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.
• Increase funding of high-quality research on breastfeeding.
• Support better tracking rates, as well as factors that affect breastfeeding.