Breastfeeding News

Upcoming Breastfeeding Events: Save the date!

• Save the date for the Annual School of Public Health Breastfeeding Grand Rounds 2017 on August 3, 2017.

UN Supports and Promotes Breastfeeding

A joint statement was issued by United Nation experts telling countries they need to do more to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding as a human right, including ending the inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes and other foods intended for infants and young children.
UN experts emphasized the importance and many benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother and child. Concern was expressed about the lack of progress made in improving breastfeeding rates globally and in providing women and their children with the support and protection they are entitled to.
The experts voiced particular concern about the continued misleading marketing of breast milk substitutes and other foods intended for infants and young children. They pointed out that there is little corporate accountability for the adverse consequences of such marketing practices which, the experts said, continue to undermine efforts to improve early and exclusive breastfeeding rates.
The experts called upon governments to take all necessary measures to promote and protect breastfeeding and welcomed renewed global efforts to reduce the inappropriate marketing of commercially prepared foods for infants and young children.

National WIC Association Statement on Infant Formula Manufacturers

The National WIC Association (NWA) announced during the NWA’s 2016 Nutrition and Education Conference they are ending their relationship with infant formula manufacturers.  Effective immediately NWA will no longer invite infant formula companies to be members, exhibitors at conferences, advertisers or sponsors of events and activities. This move furthers NWAs goal of supporting WIC as the nation’s Go-to Breastfeeding Program.  For more information, please click here.

New York State Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week 2016

Breastfeeding mothers and families, elected officials and advocates from all over New York City gathered on the steps of City Hall for a rally to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week.  Following the rally many participated in the NYC Breastfeeding Leadership Council’s annual Breastfeeding Subway Caravan.  The caravan traveled on the “A” train to Bedford-Stuyvesant’s Restoration Plaza for the Annual World Breastfeeding Week Fair sponsored by the Brooklyn Alliance for Breastfeeding Empowerment (B.A.B.E.).

At the Rally, the New York City Breastfeeding Leadership Council presented their annual Breastfeeding Champion Award to Council Member Kevin Cornegy for his leadership in promoting breastfeeding as an option for working mothers and co-sponsoring the Lactation Room Bill (Intro 1063) which will require lactation rooms in certain public buildings in New York City.

New York City Helps Their Youngest Get a Healthy Start

On August 11, New York City’s Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a law which requires lactation rooms in public buildings that serve members of the public. This legislation reinforces a woman’s right to breastfeed in public while creating safe, hygienic, and private spaces where women can breastfeed or lactate comfortably.  New York City leads the way as one of the first cities in the nation to provide this type of service to visitors of city facilities.

New York State Hospitals Support Breastfeeding

Women giving birth in New York State hospitals receive additional support and encouragement for breastfeeding.  In October amended regulations were added that require hospitals to place newborns skin to skin with their mothers following birth (unless medically contraindicated), discuss the risks of early pacifier use and prohibit hospitals from giving out gift bags that contain formula marketing materials or free samples.  Hospitals will provide formula to infants whose parents have chosen formula feeding with additional education on formula preparation and feeding techniques.

View the press release.

View the policy.