Weekly Wire: October Equity Webinar Announced, Final NBM Events, Infant Feeding Appropriations Analysis, and more

The USBC e-Newsletter, Staying Abreast, is published in a weekly news brief format, called the Weekly Wire (WW). Past issues are archived below.

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Weekly Wire: October Equity Webinar Announced, Final NBM Events, Infant Feeding Appropriations Analysis, and more

8/26/2022

Weekly Wire: August 26, 2022

The Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire e-Newsletter is a compendium of news, actions, and resources considered to be of interest or relevance to the breastfeeding field. The newsletter aims to support the USBC mission "To drive collaborative efforts for policy and practices that create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States." Included items are submitted for consideration or identified by the USBC e-news team via an extensive online review. Whenever possible, the newsletter utilizes language directly from the primary source of an item without additional analysis or edits. In some cases, the USBC offers additional perspectives through the "USBC Insights," media and partner highlights, and the "News & Views" section. Inclusion of an item in the e-newsletter does not imply endorsement or support by the USBC of an item or organization, unless specifically noted.

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- Webinar on Racism and Gendered Language
- Update on Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations and Infant Feeding
- National Breastfeeding Month Blog Post on Choice and Human Milk Feeding
- August Fundraising Campaign Update
- New USBC Member: Nurturings (Attachment Parenting International)
- Final Call for NBM 2022 T-Shirts
- Weekly Wire Hiatus and USBC Office Closure
Special Section on the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act
Special Section on National Breastfeeding Month 2022
National News
- mPINC Survey Data Collection Update
- Report on Donor Human Milk Use in Neonatal Care Units
- Public Comment Period on Respectful Maternity Care Implementation Research Questions
- County-Level Mapping Tool Featuring Maternal and Infant Health Data
- Webinar on Workplace Supports for Women
- Action Tool in Support of Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act
- IBCLC Recertification Deadline Next Month
- Study on Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Initiative
- Virtual Gathering on Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities
- Report from the Task Force on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
- Listening Session Ahead of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
State & Community News
- Bill Introduced Requiring Hospitals Maintain Baby-Friendly Designation in New Jersey
- Expanded Paid Parental Leave Approved for City of Minneapolis Employees
News & Views

denotes a USBC member organization news item denotes a USBC-affiliated constellation news item

USBC Updates

Webinar on Racism and Gendered Language

Join the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee and Dr. Aunchalee Palmquist on Wednesday, October 12, from 2-3 p.m. ET for a webinar titled "Racism and the Colonial Roots of Gendered Language in Public Health and Biomedicine." Dr. Palmquist will unpack colonial influences on gendered language, the fluidity of language in other cultures, and inclusive approaches to transform the culture of the First Food Field. Registration is free, and USBC has applied for CERPS and CPEU for Dietitians.

Update on Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations and Infant Feeding

The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bills and associated reports. Funding provisions that impact infant feeding are included in several appropriations bills. The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee published a blog post titled "FY23 Appropriations: What the Senate bills mean for infant feeding " that highlights the critical need for federal funding supporting infant feeding. The USBC "Federal Appropriations for Breastfeeding" has been webpage to reflect the current status of the appropriations process. This is one of several steps in the appropriations process, and it is crucial for the voices of breastfeeding families and those who support them to continue to be heard!

National Breastfeeding Month Blog Post on Choice and Human Milk Feeding

USBC Senior Campaign & Convening Manager, Camille Abbe, published a blog post titled "A Consideration of Choice (in the Absence of Systemic Supports)." In the post, she explores the implications of using the word "choice" when describing breastfeeding or human milk feeding and the critical need for policy, systems, and environmental changes to make it possible for families to reach their infant feeding goals.

August Fundraising Campaign Update

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is in the final week of our August fundraising campaign. You can support the USBC by making a donation of any size, one-time or recurring monthly. Your gift today can help create lasting change for families and will help us reach our goal of 500 donors during August. The support of 233 people purchasing 341 t-shirts and 60 generous donors (and counting!) is deeply appreciated. About 4,000 people receive this newsletter, and if just 200 subscribers give today, we will reach our goal! Will you help us get over the finish line?

New USBC Member: Nurturings (Attachment Parenting International)

Joins us in welcoming a new addition to the USBC membership! Nurturings (Attachment Parenting International) is a new USBC member organization that equips local leaders to provide peer parenting support in communities that fosters early secure attachment. Breastfeeding is one of their eight areas of focus, and it is reinforced in the other areas of birth, breastsleeping, nurturing touch and babywearing, balance, responding with sensitivity, and care. Learn more about their work on the Nurturings website.

Final Call for NBM 2022 T-Shirts

This is the final week to order the official National Breastfeeding Month (NBM) 2022 t-shirt! The deadline to purchase is Wednesday, August 31. Every order includes about $5 earmarked for U.S. Breastfeeding Committee advocacy efforts protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding and human milk feeding and furthering our vision of thriving families and communities. Join us as we celebrate our collective efforts in the final week of August!

Weekly Wire Hiatus and USBC Office Closure

The Weekly Wire will be on hiatus for the next week while USBC staff is out of the office for an extended Labor Day break. The USBC "offices" will be closed from Wednesday, August 31, through Monday, September 5. We look forward to connecting when we return!

Special Section on the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act

As the Congressional session winds down, the clock is ticking for the Senate to pass the bipartisan PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act. Along with our partners, the USBC has been working tirelessly to educate Senators on the power and potential impact of the broadly supported bipartisan bill. We are not giving up! Please raise your voice with us through our individual action tool and sign on to our organizational letter. Recent media highlights on the fight for the PUMP Act include:

Casper Star Tribune: "Bruyette: We need the PUMP Act to protect nursing workers like me"
EBN blog post: "How U.S. policy has failed breastfeeding parents"
Law 360: "Nursing Breaks Are No-Brainer For Cos. Despite Bill's Failure"
Ms. Magazine: "Black and Brown Moms Urge Breastfeeding Support"

Special Section on National Breastfeeding Month 2022

It's the final week of National Breastfeeding Month and the 10th anniversary of Black Breastfeeding Week! Thank you to all USBC member organizations, breastfeeding coalitions, partner organizations, and individuals who have participated in online action and conversation about the policy and practice changes needed to build a landscape of support for babies and families this month. Together, we really can do great things!

Highlights from the field for this week include:

Birthmark Doulas: Birthmark Doulas, in partnership with the NOLA Breastfeeding Center, is hosting a webinar titled "Human Milk Sharing As An Emergency Response Strategy" on Tuesday, August 30, at 7 p.m. ET. The webinar will feature a panel discussing the decolonization of human milk sharing as an essential survival mechanism for those impacted by the climate crisis. In celebration of Black Breastfeeding Week, Black attendees may join free of charge.
Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities: Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities published a National Breastfeeding Month: Collective Power & Impact webpage with resources and information for advocates and families.
IHS: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Services released a National Breastfeeding Month webpage that celebrates breastfeeding families and includes resources for families.
OHSU-PSU: The OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Human Lactation program is hosting an online event in celebration of National Breastfeeding Month on Tuesday, August 30, at 4 p.m. ET. Speakers will discuss their Pathway 2 Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) training and highlight community organizations that support Black breastfeeding.
PA AAP: The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a call for stories and photos about breastfeeding experiences in Pennsylvania. Submissions will be shared through social media and email campaigns during National Breastfeeding Month.
PHFE WIC: The PHFE WIC program published a National Breastfeeding Month webpage with links to community resource fairs and breastfeeding support groups in several languages.
Texas HHS: The Texas Department of Health and Human Services published a Texas WIC Highlights National Breastfeeding Month webpage that lifts up the activities and resources that the Texas WIC program is hosting during the month.
M3: Melanin Mothers Meet is hosting a series of online events and conversations during Black Breastfeeding Week, including "An Herbal Perspective on Breastfeeding" and "Black Breastfeeding Week: an IBCLC Perspective."
The Milk Bank: The Milk Bank is hosting a webinar titled "How Our Babies Made Us Human" on Tuesday, August 30, at 12 p.m. ET. Speaker Dr. Amanda Veile will discuss the evolution of the human birthing mechanism, human-specific infant feeding behaviors, and how babies helped shape early human social organization.

Local Events

Awesome Breastfeeders: Awesome Breastfeeders is hosting a screening of "Chocolate Milk: The Documentary" on Saturday, August 27, at 9:30 a.m. PT, in Los Angeles, California. The event will include a discussion about the documentary and the work being done to support Black families.
CinnaMoms: CinnaMoms is hosting a Black Breastfeeding Week celebration on Tuesday, August 30, at 10 a.m. PT, in Los Angeles, California. The event will include a resource fair with WIC partners and a photo booth.
SBC: The Sacramento Breastfeeding Coalition, in partnership with the Community Resource Project, is hosting an event titled "Reading for Breastfeeding" with author Jasmine Marquez on Sunday, August 28, at 10 a.m. PT, in Elk Grove, California. The reading and book signing will be accompanied by an "Ask the LC" help table.
SOMI: The Supporting Our Mothers Initiative is hosting a Black Breastfeeding Week celebration at Queens Carnival on Saturday, August 27, beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET in Far Rockaway, New York.

Breastfeeding Month Proclamations

Montrose County: Montrose Board of County Commissioners proclaimed August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month.
Washoe County: Washoe County Board of Health Chairman Oscar Delgado issued a proclamation declaring August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

NBM News & Views

A Better Balance blog post: "National Breastfeeding Month 2022: The Time is Now to Protect Lactating Workers"
The Bump: "It's World Breastfeeding Week: Here's What You Can Do to Support Parents"
Daily Jefferson County Union: "Congress should step up for breastfeeding moms"
Employee Resources (DHS blog): "National Breastfeeding Month"
The Gleaner: "Mandeville Regional Hospital now certified baby friendly"
Longview News-Journal: "How do we break down barriers to breastfeeding in Kansas? Communities, scholarships pave the way"
MMBNE blog post: "Bikers for Babies Deliver Thousands of Ounces of Donor Milk to Mothers' Milk Bank Northeast During ProHealth Physicians Third Annual Ride"
The Rogersville Review: "ETSU Health offers region's only prenatal breastfeeding consultations"
Telegraph Forum: "Health board honors employers for supporting breastfeeding mothers"
UN News: "Breastfeeding More Critical Than Ever"

The above unbranded graphics, plus more, are available for download on the USBC NBM webpage.

National News

mPINC Survey Data Collection Update

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is more than halfway through the data collection period for CDC's 2022 Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey. Battelle, the contractor conducting the mPINC survey, has contacted every hospital in the United States and territories that routinely provides maternity care services. They are still calling hospitals to determine whether a hospital is eligible to complete the survey. Mother-baby nurse managers or labor and delivery unit managers might be contacted by Battelle to determine eligibility and will be asked to provide an email address for the best point of contact for a hospital-specific link to the survey. If a hospital has not heard from Battelle, they can check with their managers/leadership, lactation specialists, and maternity staff to see if anyone has received a call or voicemail from Battelle. If not, the CDC requests that they send an email to mPINC@cdc.gov with the hospitals full name and address. The CDC has not yet estabished a final submission deadline, however it encourages hospitals to submit their surveys as soon as possible after receiving the invitation. For more information about the 2022 mPINC survey, visit the Hospital FAQs webpage.

Report on Donor Human Milk Use in Neonatal Care Units

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report titled "Donor Human Milk Use in Advanced Neonatal Care Units — United States, 2020." Through an analysis of CDC's 2020 Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care survey data, the authors found that donor milk was not available for infants with very low birth weight at 13% of U.S. hospitals with neonatal intensive care units.

Public Comment Period on Respectful Maternity Care Implementation Research Questions

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality opened a public comment period for the key questions on "Respectful Maternity Care: Dissemination and Implementation of Perinatal Safety Culture to Improve Equitable Maternal Healthcare Delivery and Outcomes." The resource that will be developed will be used to guide policymakers and practice leaders in measuring and identifying respectful maternity care (RMC), disrespect or abuse during childbirth, and effective strategies for implementing RMC in order to improve outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged populations. The comment period is open through Friday, September 9.

County-Level Mapping Tool Featuring Maternal and Infant Health Data

The Health Resources and Services Administration Maternal and Child Health Bureau designed a new "Maternal and Infant Health Mapping Tool" with customizable, county-level maps. Individuals can use the tool to help federal, state and local decision-makers and leaders visualize maternal and infant health factors to help them understand local needs and target resources appropriately. Individuals can also upload their own data source to create a custom layer on the maps.

Webinar on Workplace Supports for Women

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs is hosting a webinar titled "Supporting Women in the Workplace," on Wednesday, August 31, at 11 a.m. ET. Participants are invited to join to learn about DOL resources and protections available for women throughout their careers, beginning as a student up to retirement.

Action Tool in Support of Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics launched an action tool titled "Take Action Now to Ensure Congress Passes the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act." Individuals can use the tool to contact their Members of Congress in support of the bill.

USBC Insight: The Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act would reauthorize critical child nutrition programs, including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and expand the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program. For more information about the potential impact of the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act, see the write-up in last week's Weekly Wire.

IBCLC Recertification Deadline Next Month

The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners issued a reminder that the International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) recertification deadline is Friday, September 30. Additionally, beginning with those due to recertify in 2022, IBCLCs are no longer required to recertify by examination every ten years. Now, there are two options for every five-year recertification cycle.

Study on Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Initiative

The Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute is conducting a study that aims to learn more about the characteristics of Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care (BFCC) initiatives. Individuals that manage or administer a BFCC initiative in the United States are invited to participate. Participants will have the opportunity to enter a drawing for $250. The deadline to fill out the survey is Friday, September 30.

Virtual Gathering on Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities

Breastfeeding Family Friendly Communities is hosting a virtual gathering on Thursday, September 8, at 1 p.m. ET. Participants will convene to discuss the Ten Steps to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community, gather ideas for expanding their programs, and share their goals.

Report from the Task Force on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

The Task Force on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health released its comprehensive report titled "Informing the White House Conference: Ambitious, Actionable Recommendations to End Hunger, Advance Nutrition, and Improve Health in the United States" to inform the upcoming White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The report includes a series of 30 policy recommendations and actions to advance the goals of the conference. The public health and nutrition education sector recommendations include "create and invest in programs and policies that promote human milk feeding as the premier source of infant nutrition." On Wednesday, August 31, at 2 p.m. ET the Task Force Co-Chairs will host a public webinar on the report and its recommendations.

Listening Session Ahead of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

The White House is hosting a special, virtual listening session titled "White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health Lived Expertise Listening Session" on Monday, August 29, at 5:30 p.m. ET. In an effort to achieve the goals of ending hunger and health disparities in the U.S., The White House is committed to learning directly from those with lived expertise. Community members with lived experience are invited to share their insights and perspectives during this historic listening session that will inform the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to be hosted in September.

State & Community News

Bill Introduced Requiring Hospitals Maintain Baby-Friendly Designation in New Jersey

New Jersey Assemblywoman Britnee Timblerlake introduced Bill A4286, which would require all hospitals with maternity departments to maintain baby-friendly and mother-friendly designations. The bill has been referred to the Assembly Health Committee.

Expanded Paid Parental Leave Approved for City of Minneapolis Employees

The Minneapolis City Council approved a resolution to expand paid parental leave for employees of the city from three weeks to twelve weeks for the birth or adoption of a child. Media highlights include: