Nationwide Call to Action on Breastfeeding
The Department of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Office on Women’s Health, Office of the Surgeon General and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has announced a Call To Action on Breastfeeding, in which it is asking for comments from individuals and organizations about breastfeeding promoting policies and activities. According to the group,
“Breastfeeding is unquestionably healthier for mothers and babies compared to feeding with infant formula.
We are especially interested in new ideas that will increase equity in breastfeeding rates among all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Ideas should build on programs and policies that are recognized to be effective or evidence-based. In addition, we welcome suggestions to adopt, expand, implement, research, or improve existing strategies.”
12 topic areas have been created for individuals to submit comments.
They include: 
- Maternal and Infant Care Practices: Prenatal, Hospital, and Post-Delivery Care
- Access to Lactation Care and Support
- Health Professional Education, Publications, and Conferences
- Use of Banked Human Milk
- Work-site Lactation Support, On-site Child Care, and Milk Expression
- Paid Maternity Leave
- Portrayal of Breastfeeding in Traditional Popular Media and New Electronic Media
- Support for Breastfeeding in Public Settings
- Peer Support and Education of Family Members and Friends
- Community Support for Breastfeeding in Complementary Programs (e.g., Early Head Start, Home Visitation, Parental Training)
- Research and Surveillance
- Other Areas
Submit your comments and recommendations before the May 31st, 2009 deadline.
I wish for the impossible to happen – that women in chat rooms and internet message boards would quit setting new moms (and veteran moms) up for absolute failure. This applies to breastfeeding AND natural childbirth.
From the moment a woman gets pregant, she is inundated with horror stories about labor and how difficult, or impossible, breastfeeding is. I had my first baby before these boards became the norm (16 years ago) and gee, I had a pain-free natural childbirth and breastfeeding was a breeze. I also think these boards contribute to women thinking they won’t be able to – “not enough milk”, etc. – when in actuality very very few women can’t breastfeed. But you already know that.
Anyways, I think getting birth out of the hospitals more would help a great deal. I don’t believe a hospital setting is at all conduscive to a relaxing bonding experience between mom and baby, and I believe a midwife or an unassisted childbirth situation would encourage the normal processes much more.
Probably not much help, eh?