August is National Breastfeeding Month

On August 6, 2011, the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) officially declared August as National Breastfeeding Month.¹

In recognition of August as National Breastfeeding Month, we are introducing resources published by numerous trusted sources, including My Diverse Patients. The first is an eLearning experience, developed for care providers, nurses, office staff, and other healthcare professionals. It is titled Promoting Birth Equity. You can find it on the Maternal Health Disparities page. In addition, within the Current Trends section, we offer access to an education resource via an externally published special series called Lost Mothers: Maternal Mortality In The U.S. It includes a resource by the National Public Radio entitled Black Mothers Keep Dying After Giving Birth. Shalon Irving's Story Explains Why.

Further and in accordance, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers these key points about breastfeeding:

• Breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for most infants.
• Breastfeeding can reduce the risk of certain health conditions for both infants and mothers.
• Only one in four infants are exclusively breastfed as recommended until they are six months old.
• CDC supports and promotes breastfeeding across the United States.

Infants who are breastfed and mothers who breastfeed have reduced risk of:

• Asthma and severe lower respiratory disease.
• Obesity.
• Type 1 diabetes.
• Acute otitis media (ear infections).
• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
• Gastrointestinal infections, which can cause diarrhea and vomiting.
• Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (death of intestinal tissue) for preterm infants.

Mothers who breastfeed also have reduced risk of high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer.² 

Whole health

We are taking a holistic view that can transform health. Maternal-child health includes the entire pre‑pregnancy, pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum journey of a parent and child up to one year after birth.³

Healthy babies start with healthy pregnancies. The United States has a robust healthcare infrastructure, spending more per capita on healthcare than any other nation, but maternal health in the U.S. has lagged behind that of other developed countries.⁴ 

Certified doula care can help improve maternal and infant health outcomes

Research shows that doulas — trained professionals who counsel pregnant people before, during, and after their babies are born — can help improve maternal health outcomes by offering information and education, as well as physical, social, and emotional support. Such care has been found to reduce the rate of cesarean births, preterm births, and postpartum depression, while also improving breastfeeding rate.⁴

 We look forward to working together to deliver high-quality, equitable healthcare. If you have any questions about this communication, visit the Contact Us section of our provider website.