Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - World Doula Week, Ohio Sample Lactation Policy Resources for Employers, & More

Weekly Wire: March 13, 2026

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 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
  • USBC Submits Comment to CDC on Maternal Mortality Review Information Application
  • USBC Supports...
  • Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: The Emerald Doula LLC and Urban Indian Health Institute 
  • USBC Awards: Apply or Nominate a Breastfeeding Changemaker
  • Weekly Wire Hiatus
• National News
  •   World Doula Week is March 22-28
• State & Community News
  • Ohio Sample Lactation Policy Resources for Employers
  • California Bill Introduced to Strengthen Medi-Cal Member Access to Lactation Support
• Action Opportunities
• Upcoming Events
• News & Views
• Journal Publications

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

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USBC Updates

USBC Submits Comment to CDC on Maternal Mortality Review Information Application

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee submitted a comment to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in response to the public comment opportunity on the proposed revision and continuation of the Maternal Mortality Review Information Application (MMRIA), the national data system used by Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs) to analyze pregnancy-associated deaths and identify prevention opportunities. The USBC comment encourages consideration of ways to strengthen how lactation and infant feeding are captured during maternal mortality review processes.

USBC Insight: Maternal mortality review efforts focus on understanding the factors that contribute to pregnancy-related deaths and identifying ways to prevent them. Many maternal deaths occur during the postpartum period, when individuals may also be navigating lactation and infant feeding. Research increasingly links lactation with maternal cardiometabolic health and other conditions associated with maternal morbidity and mortality. At the same time, lactation support systems often intersect with hospitals, outpatient care, community-based services, and public health programs. Ensuring that maternal mortality review processes capture this context can help illuminate how postpartum care systems function in practice, identify gaps in support, and strengthen the evidence base for prevention strategies that promote the health and well-being of both parents and infants.

USBC Supports...

Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP):

• "FY27 Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Appropriations Letter: National, State, and Acad…"
• "FY27 SET-NET Appropriations Letter: National, State, and Academic Sign-on"

Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM):

• "Action Statement on Forced Separation of Breastfeeding Families"

Welcoming New USBC Member Organizations: The Emerald Doula LLC and Urban Indian Health Institute 

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee is thrilled to welcome 18 organizations to the USBC member network as of January 2026! To welcome them, each edition of the Weekly Wire newsletter over the past few months has spotlighted two of the new member organizations, presented in alphabetical order from the new cohort. Access the archive to review past editions. The USBC warmly welcomes all new and returning member organizations to our table! This week, we are highlighting the Emerald Doula LLC and Urban Indian Health Institute. 

The Emerald Doula LLC is a Black woman-owned business based in Narberth, Pennsylvania. The small business originally focused on birthwork but has expanded into childbirth education, CPR education/certification, thought leadership, and mentorship. Currently, they seek to support and educate birthing families in their lactation journeys. 

Urban Indian Health Institute, the public health division of Seattle Indian Health Board, is a public health authority and Tribal Epidemiology Center. For over 25 years, they have served the public health, data, research, and evaluation needs of urban AI/AN people living in cities throughout the U.S. They currently have 92 organization partners, including Urban Indian Organizations, across 28 states. 

USBC Awards: Apply or Nominate a Breastfeeding Changemaker

The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee 2026 Awards Application is open throughout the month of March. Each year, the USBC National Breastfeeding Conference & Convening Awards recognize and celebrate individuals advancing breastfeeding and lactation support through leadership, advocacy, research, systems change, and community-based work. These honorees represent the heart of our field, people whose dedication, vision, and persistence make a lasting impact year after year. Our 2026 Awards categories include the Hamlin-Taylor Community Impact Leader Award, the Native Knowledge Award, and the Cultural Changemaker Award.

We are seeking nominations for individuals who have demonstrated long-term commitment to breastfeeding advocacy or support, are leading meaningful work at the community, state, or national level, and often do vital work that may be underrecognized or behind the scenes. Find more details and learn more about each award category on the submission form. Apply for yourself or submit a nomination via the 2026 NBCC Awards Application. The application will close on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at midnight PT.

Weekly Wire Hiatus

The Weekly Wire will be on hiatus the week of March 16 while our staff members are preparing for and hosting the Spring Membership Meeting. We look forward to connecting with members at the meeting and with everyone else when we return! Is your organization interested in becoming a USBC member and joining biannual membership meetings? Complete the USBC Membership Interest Form.

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National News

World Doula Week is March 22-28

World Doula Week will begin with World Doula Day on Sunday, March 22, and will be celebrated through Saturday, March 28. This week celebrates the vital role doulas play in supporting the physiological, social, emotional, and psychological health of women, newborns, and families during birth and the postpartum period. This year’s theme, Holding Humanity, highlights the compassionate, person-centered care doulas provide to families around the world. 

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State & Community News

Ohio Sample Lactation Policy Resources for Employers

The Ohio Department of Health posted sample policies for supporting breastfeeding employees at work (downloadable from the "Resources" tab). Policy samples are provided as an expansion of the Ohio Workplace PLUS Toolkit and align with current federal laws. The industry-specific policies include retail, restaurant, manufacturing, education, and healthcare facilities, and address components such as reasonable time, private space, non-discrimination, employer and employee responsibilities, and the complaint/grievance process. 

California Bill Introduced to Strengthen Medi-Cal Member Access to Lactation Support 

California Assembly Member Rodriguez introduced AB 2160. This bill would strengthen access to lactation support and services for families enrolled in Medi-Cal by clarifying coverage and billing procedures, expanding provider eligibility to IBCLCs, and eliminating unnecessary prior authorization barriers so that parents who reasonably self-identify a need for lactation support can get timely care. 

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Action Opportunities

 Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine: "ABM Action Statement on Forced Separation of Breastfeeding Families." Sign-on deadline: Friday, March 20.

 National Association of County and City Health Officials: "Local Public Health: A Commonsense Investment." Action deadline: n/a.

National Black Midwives Alliance: "Campaign to Establish a Black Midwives Day." Petition deadline: n/a.

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Upcoming Events

Thursday, April 9:

• National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers: "Messages That Move Policy: New Findings for Prenatal-to 3 Advocates"

On-Demand:

•  Michigan Breastfeeding Network - Great Lakes Breastfeeding Webinar: "The Missing Link: The Importance of Community Organizations"

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News & Views

Black Mamas Matter Alliance BMMA Youtube Channel: "2026 Black Maternal Health Week National Call"

Femtech Insider: "Mamava Partners with SimpliFed to Offer Virtual Lactation Consulting Directly via App"

Medical Xpress: "Optical analysis of human milk advances breastfeeding research"

Mexico Solidarity Media: "Monopolies like Nestlé Used COVID to Discredit Breast Milk: Study"

WEHT: "New Indiana law exempts breastfeeding moms from jury duty"

WWTI: "Syracuse hospital gets breastfeeding designation, first in Onondaga County"

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Journal Publications

Journal of Human Lactation: "Breast Milk Expression in Mothers of Full-Term Infants: A Scoping Review of Available Information"

Journal of Perinatology: "Improving direct breastfeeding at discharge in a Level II Neonatal ICU"

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U.S. Breastfeeding Committee
1629 K Street NW Suite 300 | Washington, District of Columbia 20006
(773) 359-1549 | [email protected] 

 

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