Improving community breastfeeding support for low-income women in California

Breastfeeding is a low-cost, low-tech intervention that can reduce a number of acute and chronic health issues for women and children, including risk for overweight. Despite some increases in breastfeeding rates for Californians, rates for initiation, exclusivity and duration remain low for women of color. Efforts on multiple fronts are needed to remove barriers and provide the needed support for all mothers who decide to breastfeed. Collaborative advocacy efforts are working to simultaneously improve hospital breastfeeding rates, worksite lactation accommodation, and Medi-Cal regulations. This multi-faceted approach relies on grassroots advocacy, media outreach, education, administrative change and legislative strategy. Partners in these efforts include MCH, WIC, Medi-Cal staff, Labor Commissioner, hospitals, CA WIC Association, the state and local breastfeeding coalitions, and breastfeeding advocates.