How New Haven Can Support Breastfeeding & Chestfeeding Individuals
Members of the Task Force held focus groups and interviews with Black mothers and fathers, as well as Latina mothers, in order to understand perceptions, challenges, and facilitators of breastfeeding.
Findings from these conversations are included below and provide important insight into how we as a New Haven community can support breast/chestfeeding.
#1
Shift Cultural Norms to Promote Breastfeeding
“Just hearing my mom say… ‘I breastfed you.’ And my grandmother, ‘I breastfed her.’ You know what I mean? You can call it a tradition I guess, [but it makes a difference]”
What We Heard
Formula feeding is viewed as the norm in the United States
Breastfeeding needs to be more visible in the media
Local breastfeeding resources need to be more widely shared
The Task Force Taking Action
Developed new English- and Spanish-language resource guides on breastfeeding support services in Greater New Haven, which were shared with over 75 community members
Conducted interviews with 18 New Haven residents to inform the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) Breastfeeding: It’s Worth It! campaign
Next Steps
Collaborating with CT DPH to launch a communications campaign to support breastfeeding
Provide storefront decals to businesses that show their support of breastfeeding “any time, any place”
#2
Improve Knowledge and Practice of Breastfeeding-Friendly Policies in the Workplace
What We Heard
Workplaces need to be breastfeeding-friendly with clear policies in place
Some people do not know about their employer's breastfeeding policies and would like to know their rights
Some businesses want to support breastfeeding but need more information and support
The Task Force Taking Action
Created a strategy, developed resources, and trained 11 Task Force members to encourage local businesses to become breastfeeding-friendly
Designed "Know Your Rights" flyers and updated "The Business Case for Breastfeeding" with the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition (CBC)
Built an Employer Starter Kit for becoming a Breast/Chestfeeding-Friendly Business
Collaborated with the CBC; the New Haven Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking; and community partners to design a lactation room in New Haven’s local train station, with construction beginning in early 2023
Next Steps
Collaborating with the CBC and other partners to create lactation rooms in more public spaces
Supporting local businesses in receiving a Breast/Chestfeeding-Friendly Designation from the CBC, meaning that a business provides a time, space, and policy for pumping at work
Organizing a press conference to highlight local businesses that have received the Breast/Chestfeeding-Friendly Designation
#3
Address Racial Biases & Increase Support for Breastfeeding Among Healthcare Providers
What We Heard
Mothers want and need high-quality, culturally-sensitive breastfeeding education and lactation support from healthcare providers, beginning prenatally and continuing postpartum
Mothers recommended that healthcare providers receive more information and training on breastfeeding and unconscious bias in practices
The Task Force Taking Action
Funding peer counselors with lived experience to support over 331 Black mothers
Funding the Mocha Milkshake Café breastfeeding support group, run by Earth’s Natural Touch doulas, to support over 116 breastfeeding families
Provided feedback on a "Basics of Breastfeeding training" developed by CT DPH and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
Created a training for healthcare providers specifically focused on the “Roots of Racial Inequities in Breastfeeding” among Black Americans, which was presented to 12 healthcare providers from 8 different offices for feedback
Next Steps
Piloting the "Basics of Breastfeeding" and "Roots of Racial Inequities" trainings in clinical offices
Getting CME accreditation for the "Roots of Racial Inequities in Breastfeeding" training in order to reach more clinicians