Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - AHRQ Breastfeeding Evidence Report, USPSTF Recommends Breastfeeding Support Interventions, & 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.

Subscribe: visit the signup page
Submit: visit the submission form

Please note: Inclusion of an item in this e-newsletter does NOT imply endorsement or support of such item by the United States Breastfeeding Committee, unless specifically noted.

The WW goes on hiatus several times a year: the weeks of the Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Year's holidays, the weeks before the Presidents Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day holidays, and the weeks of the USBC membership meetings.

Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - AHRQ Breastfeeding Evidence Report, USPSTF Recommends Breastfeeding Support Interventions, & more

4/11/2025

In this issue:

USBC Updates
- USBC Membership Meeting Mission Moment
International News
- Global Report on Investing in Midwifery Models of Care
National News
- AHRQ Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes for Infants and Children Evidence Report
- USPSTF Recommendation Statement on Primary Care Interventions to Support Breastfeeding
- 2025 Leapfrog Maternity Care Report
- Know Your Rights Guides for Transgender & Non-Binary Workers: Paid Leave & Pregnancy Accommodations
- Organizational Factsheet: Crafting a Health Equity Centered Narrative
State & Community News
- Alabama Governor Signs Paid Parental Leave for Teachers and Educators Into Law
- Report Spotlights Experiences of Workers Participating in DC Paid Family Leave
- Pennsylvania Bill Introduced to Require Breastfeeding Accommodation in Commonwealth-Owned Buildings
- Arkansas Bill Introduced to Fund Lactation Facilities in State Courthouses
Action Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Events
News & Views

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

USBC Updates

USBC Membership Meeting Mission Moment

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee hosted a Membership Meeting on Thursday, March 20. The biannual virtual event brings together representatives from the approximately 140 member organizations that comprise the USBC member network and work collaboratively to drive policy and practice changes that create a landscape of breastfeeding support. At the opening of the meeting, USBC Executive Director Jennifer Day and Board Chair Tiana Pyles engaged in a “Mission Moment Fireside Chat.” Deep gratitude to Jennifer and Tiana for sharing their stories, grounding us in what is happening in the world, giving us hope about what is possible, and guiding us in what we can do right now! Visit the "USBC Membership Meeting Mission Moment" blog for an excerpt from the fireside chat, in which Jennifer shares her personal story and a glimpse into what brought her to the field.

International News

Global Report on Investing in Midwifery Models of Care

The Midwifery Accelerator, a newly formed global coalition of partners (the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, the International Confederation of Midwives, and Jhpiego), released a publication, "The Midwifery Accelerator: expanding health care for women and newborns." Midwifery models of care reduce unnecessary and costly medical interventions, such as caesarian sections and assisted births, and improve maternal mental health, breastfeeding rates, and long-term health outcomes. The report calls for the investment and integration of midwifery models of care within national healthcare strategies.

National News

AHRQ Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes for Infants and Children Evidence Report

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released the "Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes for Infants and Children" Evidence Report. The purpose of this systematic review is to provide a synthesis of the current evidence on the association between breastfeeding and the consumption of human milk and a range of health outcomes in infants and children in developed countries. This review confirms that infants who are breastfed, including those fed expressed breastmilk, may have a reduced risk of several poor health outcomes. The findings support recommendations, policy efforts, and programs to encourage and support families to breastfeed their infants and show that there are barriers to breastfeeding for certain groups, such as Black families and those with fewer resources. The report highlights the need for policies at the government, community, and workplace levels to ensure all families have the same opportunities to benefit from breastfeeding.

USPSTF Recommendation Statement on Primary Care Interventions to Support Breastfeeding

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published the "Primary Care Behavioral Counseling Interventions to Support Breastfeeding" recommendation statement and the updated evidence report and systemic review, "Interventions to Support Breastfeeding." Based on the updated evidence that confirms that breastfeeding support interventions can increase the prevalence of any or exclusive breastfeeding up to and at 6 months, the USPSTF recommends providing interventions or referrals, during pregnancy and after birth, to support breastfeeding. Media highlights include:

Healio: "USPSTF: Offer counseling to support breastfeeding"
Physician Weekly: "USPSTF Recommends Primary Care Interventions to Support Breastfeeding"

2025 Leapfrog Maternity Care Report

The Leapfrog Group released the "2025 Leapfrog Maternity Care Report." The Maternity Care Report is a public report about maternity care quality data by hospital at the national level to continue to bridge the gap of available information about maternity care quality and services. The 2025 Leapfrog Maternity Care Report features national trends from 2024 Leapfrog Hospital Survey data from over 1,700 hospitals. The Survey collects information about key aspects of maternity care that can unnecessarily increase risks to both mothers and babies. Leapfrog also asks hospitals to report the availability of five key maternity services: doulas, certified midwives, lactation consultants, vaginal birth after a c-section (VBAC), and postpartum tubal ligation.

Know Your Rights Guides for Transgender & Non-Binary Workers: Paid Leave & Pregnancy Accommodations

A Better Balance released a resource, "Know Your Rights Guides for Transgender and Non-Binary Workers (A Better Balance x Transgender Law Center)." It includes a series of guides, a Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Guide, a Statewide Paid Leave Guide, and a Pregnant Workers Guide, created in collaboration with Transgender Law Center. These guides are designed to support transgender and non-binary workers in knowing and exercising their rights at work when it comes to caring for themselves and the people they love.

Organizational Factsheet: Crafting a Health Equity Centered Narrative

The Public Health Institute published a new resource, "Factsheet: Crafting A Health Equity Centered Narrative." This factsheet shares strategies to shape narratives that foster trust and belonging, with actionable strategies to help advocates and organizations shift harmful narratives, amplify community voices and bridge divides across sectors. This resource offers guidance and strategies for communicating across sectors, building solidarity and interdependence, and identifying shared values and beliefs to navigate unproductive mindsets and harmful myths that limit progress.

State & Community News

Alabama Governor Signs Paid Parental Leave for Teachers and Educators Into Law

Alabama Governor Ivey signed SB 199 into law. Alabama teachers and educators are now entitled to eight weeks of paid maternity leave and two weeks of paid paternity leave after a birth, adoption, stillbirth, or miscarriage. Media highlights include:

Alabama Reflector: "Paid parental leave is good for children, too"
AL.com: "Alabama becomes 39th state to offer state employees, teachers paid parental leave"
Motherly: "Alabama's paid parental leave law is a monumental step—now let's make it for everyone"

Report Spotlights Experiences of Workers Participating in DC Paid Family Leave

The Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) released the "DC Paid Family Leave: Access and Impact on Workers" report. This report summarizes findings from 12 interviews with beneficiaries of DC Paid Family Leave. These conversations provided insights into how having access to paid leave benefits impacted participants’ financial, mental, and physical well-being, as well as their ability to perform their caregiving responsibilities and their feelings about their jobs.

Pennsylvania Bill Introduced to Require Breastfeeding Accommodation in Commonwealth-Owned Buildings

Pennsylvania Representative Mayes introduced House Bill 707. The bill would amend the state’s Freedom to Breastfeed Act to require all buildings owned by the Commonwealth to contain at least one nursing parents room for use by employees and members of the public. The bill would also require signage indicating the location of the nursing parents room.

Arkansas Bill Introduced to Fund Lactation Facilities in State Courthouses

The Arkansas Joint Budget Committee introduced Senate Bill 72. The bill would appropriate $100,000 to the Administrative Office of the Courts for the construction, maintenance, renovation, or equipping of lactation facilities in Arkansas Courthouses.

Action Opportunities

Childhood Obesity: "Call for Papers." Submission deadline: n/a.

Maryland Breastfeeding Coalition: "Maryland/DC Breastfeeding-Friendly Awards." Nomination deadline: Wednesday, April 30. *Note: the nomination deadline has been extended.

National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers: "Urgent Action Needed: Support Critical Programs for Families." Action deadline: n/a.

The Health Project: "2025 C. Everett Koop National Health Award Applications." Application deadline: Friday, May 30.