Winter 2020
Welcome to the first edition of the Connecticut Department of Public Health's Breastfeeding: It's Worth It! quarterly eBulletin!
This eBulletin will help keep you abreast of current projects, opportunities, events, and outcomes related to breastfeeding promotion and support within our state.
This eBulletin is produced in collaboration with a variety of stakeholders with funding from the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention’s (CDC) State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) Program. DPH is funded by SPAN to implement breastfeeding promotion and support activities in healthcare, communities and workplaces through 2023.
This eBulletin will help keep you abreast of current projects, opportunities, events, and outcomes related to breastfeeding promotion and support within our state.
This eBulletin is produced in collaboration with a variety of stakeholders with funding from the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention’s (CDC) State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) Program. DPH is funded by SPAN to implement breastfeeding promotion and support activities in healthcare, communities and workplaces through 2023.
Breastfeeding: It’s Worth It!
Prior to this year’s SPAN funding, DPH was awarded funds to work in the areas of evidence-based maternity care, peer and professional breastfeeding support and worksite lactation accommodations. These projects were also funded by CDC through the 1305 cooperative agreement. A key activity of that project was to increase consumer awareness and demand for evidence-based maternity care practices that support breastfeeding.
We began by working with the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition, under direction of Dr. Vancour of Southern Connecticut State University, to ask moms and maternity care nurses in a series of focus groups conducted in 2015, about the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and their thoughts on breastfeeding in general to inform the work. The findings resulted in the development of a consumer awareness campaign in 2016 with the tagline, Breastfeeding: It’s Worth It! The campaign encourages families to share their stories around 5 key themes for breastfeeding success:
Prior to this year’s SPAN funding, DPH was awarded funds to work in the areas of evidence-based maternity care, peer and professional breastfeeding support and worksite lactation accommodations. These projects were also funded by CDC through the 1305 cooperative agreement. A key activity of that project was to increase consumer awareness and demand for evidence-based maternity care practices that support breastfeeding.
We began by working with the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition, under direction of Dr. Vancour of Southern Connecticut State University, to ask moms and maternity care nurses in a series of focus groups conducted in 2015, about the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and their thoughts on breastfeeding in general to inform the work. The findings resulted in the development of a consumer awareness campaign in 2016 with the tagline, Breastfeeding: It’s Worth It! The campaign encourages families to share their stories around 5 key themes for breastfeeding success:
Healthcare
Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI)
Is your hospital interested in achieving or sustaining the Baby-Friendly designation?
The Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition's (CBC) 10 Step Collaborative holds alternating phone conference calls and in-person meetings for any hospital interested in discussing approaches to evidence based maternity care practices and Baby-Friendly designation. Contact Kathy Mason or Marilyn Lonczak for more information.
Training Opportunity for Pediatric Offices
DPH has partnered with Educating Practices, a program of the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut, Inc. (CHDI) to develop a pediatric provider training module about Breastfeeding Basics. Educating Practices is a comprehensive, community-based, child health provider outreach and training program. The goal of CHDI's Educating Practices program is to improve the content and delivery of child health services by assisting providers in implementing practice changes that are supported by community and State resources. In addition, the modules are provided at no cost to the entire office team, including nurses, physicians, and administrative staff to promote a team approach to practice change.
The pediatric breastfeeding module entitled, “Breastfeeding Basics” was developed in partnership by Nancy Trout, MD, MPH (consultant to CHDI) with DPH and its partners.
The module focuses on the following:
Pediatric providers can contact Maggy Morales, Educating Practices Coordinator at, mamorales@uchc.edu or call at 860-679-1527 to schedule a training session.
Is your hospital interested in achieving or sustaining the Baby-Friendly designation?
The Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition's (CBC) 10 Step Collaborative holds alternating phone conference calls and in-person meetings for any hospital interested in discussing approaches to evidence based maternity care practices and Baby-Friendly designation. Contact Kathy Mason or Marilyn Lonczak for more information.
Training Opportunity for Pediatric Offices
DPH has partnered with Educating Practices, a program of the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut, Inc. (CHDI) to develop a pediatric provider training module about Breastfeeding Basics. Educating Practices is a comprehensive, community-based, child health provider outreach and training program. The goal of CHDI's Educating Practices program is to improve the content and delivery of child health services by assisting providers in implementing practice changes that are supported by community and State resources. In addition, the modules are provided at no cost to the entire office team, including nurses, physicians, and administrative staff to promote a team approach to practice change.
The pediatric breastfeeding module entitled, “Breastfeeding Basics” was developed in partnership by Nancy Trout, MD, MPH (consultant to CHDI) with DPH and its partners.
The module focuses on the following:
- benefits of breastfeeding for the infant, mother and society;
- critical role physicians play in promoting and protecting breastfeeding;
- early breastfeeding misinformation, challenges, and solutions;
- linking mothers to lactation support services in the community;
- recommended breastfeeding practices and the criteria for becoming a Breastfeeding Friendly Office Practice
Pediatric providers can contact Maggy Morales, Educating Practices Coordinator at, mamorales@uchc.edu or call at 860-679-1527 to schedule a training session.
Community
Increasing Community Support
Connecticut data shows that breastfeeding families need better community supports available to them once they leave the hospital. Data also shows that there are wide disparities seen in breastfeeding initiation and duration rates in African American women compared to their White counterparts. In an attempt to address these gaps, DPH provided a free Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) training opportunity to increase diversity in the lactation support community in the State. Response to the training was overwhelming. We received over 130 applications for 50 training spots. We are so proud of all the attendees. DPH plans to keep in contact with these newly trained community partners in order to continue to build a diverse support network for our breastfeeding mom and baby dads in Connecticut.
Connecticut data shows that breastfeeding families need better community supports available to them once they leave the hospital. Data also shows that there are wide disparities seen in breastfeeding initiation and duration rates in African American women compared to their White counterparts. In an attempt to address these gaps, DPH provided a free Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) training opportunity to increase diversity in the lactation support community in the State. Response to the training was overwhelming. We received over 130 applications for 50 training spots. We are so proud of all the attendees. DPH plans to keep in contact with these newly trained community partners in order to continue to build a diverse support network for our breastfeeding mom and baby dads in Connecticut.
Share Your Story
We want to hear from everyone who has a breastfeeding (It’s Worth It!) story: Parents (moms, dads, and those who identify as either or more), grandparents, health providers, clinical professionals, employers and policy makers. Even though many moms and babies can face breastfeeding challenges, with community support you can overcome those challenges and thrive. Like many moms we have talked to over the years, it’s not always easy, but breastfeeding- It’s Worth It! Your personal story can make a difference to another family. We are in this together and there is a community in CT of families who can encourage each other. Submit your stories here. See below in this eBulletin for more details on the Breastfeeding: It’s Worth It! campaign and themes.
We want to hear from everyone who has a breastfeeding (It’s Worth It!) story: Parents (moms, dads, and those who identify as either or more), grandparents, health providers, clinical professionals, employers and policy makers. Even though many moms and babies can face breastfeeding challenges, with community support you can overcome those challenges and thrive. Like many moms we have talked to over the years, it’s not always easy, but breastfeeding- It’s Worth It! Your personal story can make a difference to another family. We are in this together and there is a community in CT of families who can encourage each other. Submit your stories here. See below in this eBulletin for more details on the Breastfeeding: It’s Worth It! campaign and themes.
Workplace Lactation Accommodation
Help Connecticut Make it Work! Become a Breastfeeding-Friendly Worksite
Returning to work can be a one of the challenges moms face in meeting their breastfeeding goals to continue to provide breast milk for their infants. Employees and employers should work together as soon as possible to find a solution to Make it Work!
State and federal laws protect a mother's right to express milk at work during breaks in a clean, private place that is not a restroom. Our partners at the CBC can help you to ensure that your worksite is compliant with these laws, and in the process your worksite can achieve state-wide recognition as a Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite! The application is online and easier than you may think. DPH and the CBC have also created a new Breastfeeding Friendly Childcare recognition program. Resources include a toolkit, training and technical assistance to help you support your breastfeeding staff and employees. Please visit the website for more information.
Returning to work can be a one of the challenges moms face in meeting their breastfeeding goals to continue to provide breast milk for their infants. Employees and employers should work together as soon as possible to find a solution to Make it Work!
State and federal laws protect a mother's right to express milk at work during breaks in a clean, private place that is not a restroom. Our partners at the CBC can help you to ensure that your worksite is compliant with these laws, and in the process your worksite can achieve state-wide recognition as a Breastfeeding Friendly Worksite! The application is online and easier than you may think. DPH and the CBC have also created a new Breastfeeding Friendly Childcare recognition program. Resources include a toolkit, training and technical assistance to help you support your breastfeeding staff and employees. Please visit the website for more information.
Resources and Research
Breastfeeding: It’s Worth It! Education Materials
Print materials are available free of charge to Connecticut organizations and community groups. Please download and complete the It’s Worth It! materials order form, if you are interested in using these materials in your work. Please allow at least 2-4 weeks for processing.
Print materials are available free of charge to Connecticut organizations and community groups. Please download and complete the It’s Worth It! materials order form, if you are interested in using these materials in your work. Please allow at least 2-4 weeks for processing.
- Make a Plan (planning checklist available for hospital stay and post-discharge)
- Skin-to-Skin contact with baby after birth
- Rooming-in (keeping your baby in your room in the hospital)
- Community Support
- Make it Work (back to work/school checklist available)
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The Connecticut State Physical Activity and Nutrition Program is made possible with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The views expressed in this eBulletin do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the CDC or imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Learn more about the State Physical Activity and Nutrition Program at https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/.