The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee has compiled a collection of resources and reference materials on a variety of important topics of relevance to the First Food field. Each category listed below contains policy statements, relevant articles, letters, and reference materials for each topic.
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Breastfeeding reduces the risk of a range of chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and breast and ovarian cancers.
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Pasteurized donor human milk feeding has been shown to reduce infant mortality rates, lower healthcare costs, and shorten hospital stays. Specifically, the use of donor milk is associated with increased survival rates and lowered rates of infections, sepsis, serious lung disease, and gastrointestinal complications. The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend the use of donor milk for low-birthweight infants, as well as for sick infants who cannot be fed their mother’s own milk.
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Every infant feeding journey is different. For some, breast pumps, lactation supplies, and/or knowledgeable support from lactation support providers are helpful or necessary. Most health plans are required under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to cover the costs of lactation support services and breastfeeding equipment and supplies.
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Access to paid family leave programs can lay the groundwork for breastfeeding success. Paid family leave programs make it possible for employees to take time for childbirth recovery, bonding with their baby, establishing feeding routines, and adjusting to life with a new child without threatening their family's economic well-being. This precious time provides the foundation for success, contributing to improved breastfeeding initiation and duration rates. When returning to work, lactation accommodations in both the workplace and in childcare settings are critical to maintaining breastfeeding. Under federal law, employers are required to provide their employees with the time and space to pump breast milk.
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Lactating students share many of the same needs as lactating employees, including time away from their studies without penalty, access to time and space to pump during the school day, and safe storage of expressed breast milk. Under federal law, academic institutions are required to provide pregnant and postpartum students with medically-necessary leave, lactation space, and reasonable breaks to pump or breastfeed.
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To protect, promote, and support breastfeeding, the World Health Assembly adopted The International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes in 1981 and has since passed many associated resolutions (known as "the Code"). Infant formula manufacturers utilize marketing strategies for families, healthcare providers, and policymakers to portray their products as solutions to common infant health issues in ways that systematically undermine breastfeeding and that are not in accordance with the Code. The United States has not adopted the Code or placed marketing restrictions on baby food manufacturers.
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Infants and children are among the most vulnerable in an emergency. It is critical to ensure that infants are safely fed and supported in times of crisis. Breastfeeding saves lives! Human milk is always clean, requires no fuel, water, or electricity, and is available, even in the most dire circumstances.
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Policy, system, and environmental barriers to breastfeeding impact all families but have a disproportionate impact on historically underserved and historically marginalized populations. There are significant and persistent disparities in access to lactation support and in lactation outcomes based on race, geography, and socio-economic status. These disparities contribute to health inequities across the lifespan.
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A range of federal and state laws that have implications for breastfeeding dyads and families.
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