Post on 19-Sep-2020
In the spirit of this year’s World Cup, World Breastfeeding Week (WBW, August 1– 7) embraces a soccer theme, with a focus on breastfeeding as a winning goal.
The word “goal” also refers to the 8 global Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) developed by the United Nations in 1990. These goals strive for comprehensive health improvements throughout the world. Goal 4 (reduce child mortality) and Goal 5 (improve maternal health) are most influenced by breastfeeding. It is clear that breastfeeding plays an essential role in the MDGs as a nutritional tool to improve child weight status by preventing both over- and under-nutrition as well as to reduce childhood disease.
The MDGs are intended to be achieved by 2015. As the countdown towards this milestone approaches, we can acknowledge the progress made thus far but must continue to advance. The World Alliance of Breastfeeding Action (WABA) describes 2014’s goal as follows:
“This year's WBW theme responds to the latest countdown by asserting the importance of increasing and sustaining the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding in the post 2015 agenda, and engaging as many groups, and people of various ages as possible.”
Breastfeeding promotion and support are essential components of Massachusetts WIC. WIC programs across Massachusetts will embrace the theme in 2014 by celebrating with parties, health fairs, and other events. Contact your local WIC program to see what events are planned to celebrate this August!
World Breastfeeding Week 2014:
“A Winning Goal” and WIC Agrees
Breastfeeding Focus
Summer 2014
“Breastfeeding is an amazingly
complex and incredibly
adaptive system…The evidence
suggests that the debate over
the relative value of
breastfeeding compared with
artificial means of feeding is
over, as the data are
unequivocal in favor of
breastfeeding. The challenge
must now be to establish
appropriate systems and
resources to support women
and families who are interested
in breastfeeding.”
Dr. David Meyers, Agency for
Healthcare Research & Quality
Inside this issue:
World Breastfeeding
Week 2014
1
Massachusetts
Breastfeeding Highlights
2
CDC Breastfeeding
Report Card
2
News and Research 3
WIC. We Know
Breastfeeding.
4
Breastfeeding Resources 4
Brought to you by the Massachusetts WIC Nutrition Program
.
Page 2 Breastfeeding Focus
Massachusetts Breastfeeding Highlights 2014
Massachusetts now has six Baby-Friendly Hospitals
Congratulations to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton and Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington who joined Boston Medical Center, Cambridge Birth Center, Tobey Hospital and Melrose Wakefield Hospital in achieving the Baby-Friendly Hospital Designation.
18 Massachusetts Hospitals on the 4-D pathway to Baby-Friendly
According to Baby-Friendly USA, there are currently 18 additional hospitals on the pathway to Baby-Friendly. In 2014, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, in collaboration with Northeastern University, provided technical assistance to 11 of these hospitals. When the 18 hospitals achieve Baby-Friendly status, half of Massachusetts hospitals will be Baby-Friendly!
FREE CME online breastfeeding tutorial now available
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is excited to announce part 2 of the CME online tutorial for clinicians. “Expanding Clinician’s Roles in Breastfeeding Support: Focus on Maternal & Infant Care Prenatally and During the Hospital Stay” can be accessed via http://www.northeastern.edu/breastfeedingcme/ . This new version complements the first edition and together will provide the 3 CMEs required of physicians for Step 2 of the Baby- Friendly Hospital Certification process. Thank you to Northeastern University, Hallmark Health and others in the Commonwealth who contributed greatly to this module!
Collaboration with Massachusetts WIC facilitates steps 3 & 10 on the pathway
In the past year, Massachusetts WIC offered breastfeeding support services to nearly 40,000 prenatal and breastfeeding women. WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselors made more than 151,000 contacts with women via text messaging, phone calls, individual meetings and group
education and support. Local WIC programs have increased their involvement with birthing facilities in their communities. This work parallels steps 3 & 10 of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative.
“Breastfeeding is
the most precious
gift a mother can
give her infant.
When there is
infection or
illness, it may be a
life-saving gift.
When there is
poverty, it may be
‘The only gift.’”
- Dr. Ruth A.
Lawrence,
Professor of
Pediatrics and
Obstetrics and
Gynecology at the
University of
Rochester School
of Medicine
2014 CDC Report Card The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its 2014 Breastfeeding Report Card on August 1. Massachusetts continues to perform above the national averages for breastfeeding initiation and duration at 6 months. However, it appears that there needs to be a stronger focus on breastfeeding exclusivity in Massachusetts and throughout the country. For a full report log onto http://cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm.
Region Ever
Breastfed
Breastfeeding
at 6 months
Breastfeeding
at 12 months
Exclusive
breastfeeding
at 3 months
Exclusive breast-
feeding at 6
months
U.S. National 79.2% 49.4% 26.7% 40.7% 18.8%
Massachusetts 81.4% 53.7% 24.9% 36.8% 17.5%
Healthy People 2020 Target
81.9% 60.6% 34.1% 46.2% 25.5%
Breastfeeding Combined with Solid Foods Associated with Fewer Allergies
In this British study, the diets of 41 children with food allergy onset before age 2 were
compared to the diets of 82 children without food allergies. Results showed that children
with allergies experienced earlier introductions to solid food, plus no overlap between breast milk and
cow’s milk. The researchers consider the mechanism to be that breastmilk in conjunction with solid
foods has a protective immunity
Grimshaw et al. Introduction of Complementary Foods and the Relationship to Food Allergy. Pediatrics, 2013; 132 (6): e1529.
News and Research
WIC Participation Boosts Breastfeeding
This study compared breastfeeding initiation and duration between women who joined WIC prenatally
and postpartum (n = 122,506). Results showed that the longer a woman was exposed to WIC, the more
likely she was to both initiate and continue breastfeeding.
Metallinos-Katsaras et al. Maternal WIC Participation Improves Breastfeeding Rates: A Statewide Analysis of WIC
Participants. Matern Child Health J. 2014 Apr 29, 2014. [Epub ahead of print]
Page 3
Community Doulas Increase Breastfeeding Among Young Mothers
University of Chicago found that doulas increased breastfeeding initiation and duration amongst young,
low-income African American mothers (n = 248). The control group received normal prenatal care while
the experimental group had weekly doula visits before and three months after birth.
Edwards et al. Breastfeeding and Complementary Food: Randomized Trial of Community Doula Home Visiting.
Pediatrics, 2013; 132 (Supplement): S160.
Gestational Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Breastfeeding
A meta-analysis of both observational and prospective studies found that women with gestational diabetes
(GDM) are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes if they breastfeed. GDM breastfeeders showed
improvements in glucose and lipid metabolism compared to GDM non-breastfeeders.
Much et al. Beneficial effects of breastfeeding in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Mol Metab. Jun 2014; 3(3):
284–292.
Breastfeeding Duration Linked to Inflammation in Adulthood
This cohort study (n = 6951) linked breastfeeding duration in infancy with C-reactive protein levels (CRP) in
early adulthood. Longer breastfeeding was a predictor of lower adulthood CRP concentrations.
McDade et al. Long-term effects of birth weight and breastfeeding duration on inflammation in early adulthood. Proc R
Soc B, 2014; 281: 20133116.
Refer your patients to WIC for
breastfeeding education & support!
FREE breastfeeding support services at
WIC include:
Individualized breastfeeding education, assessment and
counseling by trained staff
“Mother to Mother” Breastfeeding Peer Counselors
CLCs and IBCLCs available at most WIC programs
Assistance in planning to return to work/school
Assistance in accessing breast pumps
Culturally and linguistically appropriate educational
materials
Support programs and classes available at many
programs
Contact the Massachusetts WIC Program at 1-800-WIC-1007 or visit www.mass.gov/wic for more
information.
Massachusetts WIC Nutrition Program
www.mass.gov/wic
Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition
www.massbreastfeeding.org
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
www.bfmed.org
International Lactation Consultant Association
www.ilca.org
AAP Breastfeeding Resource Guide for Health Professionals
http://www2.aap.org/breastfeeding/healthProfessionaIsResourceGuide.html
Baby-Friendly USA
www.babyfriendlyusa.org
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
www.masss.gov/dph/breastfeeding
Helpful Links to Breastfeeding Resources
WE KNOW BREASTFEEDING
Breastfeeding in the Bay State
Monday, September 29, 2014
8:00 am-5:30 pm
Massachusetts Medical Society
Waltham, Massachusetts
Jointly sponsored by the Massachusetts
Breastfeeding Coalition, the University
of Massachusetts School of Medicine
Department of Continuing Education,
and the Massachusetts section of the
American Congress of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists.
For more information, visit
http://massbreastfeeding.org/conference
FREE CMEs for Clinicians!
Check out the updated online breastfeeding tutorials
for clinicians. These modules provide 3 FREE CMEs as
well continuing education credits for RNs
http://www.northeastern.edu/breastfeedingcme