Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Cincinnati Children's Blog
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
HOME/Healthy Living/Breastfeeding: Let’s Make it Work

Breastfeeding: Let’s Make it Work

Breastfeeding: Let’s Make it Work
August 23, 2021
0 Comments
By: Julie Ware, MD

August is National Breastfeeding Month, and the U.S Breastfeeding Committee’s theme this year is “Every Step of the Way.”  Every family should receive support at every step along their infant feeding journey, with warm and coordinated hand-offs. This ensures the needs of lactating families are anticipated and met, every step of the way.

The Benefits of Breastfeeding for Babies

  • Lower risk of pneumonia requiring hospitalization, even RSV
  • Lower risk of ear infections, diarrhea, and even chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, allergies, some childhood cancers, inflammatory bowel disease, and obesity
  • Reduced risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), a cause of infant mortality
  • Premature babies who nurse have less necrotizing enterocolitis, a serious gastrointestinal problem which can be fatal

Mothers who breastfeed also have a reduced risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer, post-partum depression, diabetes type II, and hypertension.

Disparities in Breastfeeding

We know that in the U.S., Black babies are much less likely to receive their mothers’ milk compared to white babies. In Hamilton County breastfeeding at hospital discharge is 66.5% for Black mothers, compared to 80.3% for white mothers. In some low income neighborhoods breastfeeding initiation is even lower, and continuation of breastfeeding rapidly declines.

It is also important to note that within the areas in Hamilton County where we have the lowest breastfeeding rates, we also have some of the highest rates of infant mortality. The association between lack of breastfeeding and infant mortality is significant and has been confirmed in two U.S. studies. A recent study from a community not unlike ours, found an association of breastfeeding initiation with a 19% reduction in overall infant mortality (between ages 7-365 days).  Breastfeeding promotion, support, and protection should be a part of community infant mortality reduction strategies.

Chain of Support

There are several local efforts to support black families and their breastfeeding journeys. 

One example is the successful AMEN Breastfeeding Peer-to-Peer Support group (All Moms Empowered to Nurse). This effort began in 2017 with three Champion moms from Avondale who were trained to be peer supporters of breastfeeding in partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Center for Breastfeeding Medicine. Now the group has expanded and gone virtual, meeting weekly to provide support with additional AMEN Champion moms.

We recognize that breastfeeding does not come easily for all women, so we want families to know about local resources available to help initiate and continue breastfeeding. If you are located within or near Hamilton County, and are having difficulty with issues such as latching, pain, or milk supply, the following resources can help:

  • Each of our area birth hospitals has a phone line for moms to call with questions and most have outpatient lactation visits available.
  • Cincinnati Children’s Center for Breastfeeding Medicine has outpatient clinic appointments at our Burnet, Mason, Green Township and Northern Kentucky campuses, as well as a warm line: 513-636-2326 and patient and provider resources.  The Center for Breastfeeding Medicine also has a wide variety of resources online for families as well as providers. https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/service/c/breastfeeding
  • The Southwest Ohio Breastfeeding Coalition has a website with additional local resources, including support groups.
  • We are especially delighted that Ohio now has a FREE 24/7 Breastfeeding Hotline – 1-888-588-3423.
  • Donor human milk is made available through the Ohio Mother’s Milk Bank for our most vulnerable premature infants when their own mothers do not have enough milk, as well as for infants beyond the hospital period.

Working together, our community can help families “Every Step of the Way” to meet their infant feeding goals.  Please contact me at julie.ware@cchmc.org to learn more.

Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Related Articles

Needs More Awareness: Local Resources Available for Breastfeeding Moms
Needs More Awareness: Local Resources Available for Breastfeeding Moms
Breastfeeding Week: Donating Breast Milk
Breastfeeding Week: Donating Breast Milk
Online Breast Milk: It’s Too Risky
Online Breast Milk: It’s Too Risky
Milk Donor Pt. 2: A Bereaved Mother Creates a Lasting Legacy for Her Son
Milk Donor Pt. 2: A Bereaved Mother Creates a Lasting Legacy for Her Son
TAGS:
  • breastfeeding
  • Home
Avatar photo

About the author: Julie Ware, MD

Julie Ware, MD, is an experienced board-certified pediatrician specializing in breastfeeding medicine. She joined Cincinnati Children’s in September 2014 as a Community Breastfeeding Liaison and a member of the Center for Breastfeeding Medicine. Her particular interest is improving maternal and child health through the promotion and support of breastfeeding, especially in those populations least likely to breastfeed. Dr. Ware is interested in community breastfeeding outreach and collaboration with partner organizations in the community.

Write A Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

No Comments Yet

Topics

  • Cancer and Blood Diseases
  • Child Development and Behavior
  • Childhood Obesity
  • Chronic Care Networks
  • Cincinnati Walks for Kids
  • Featured Faces
  • Fetal Conditions
  • Fitness and Nutrition
  • Food Allergies
  • Ghana 2012
  • Health Care Public Policy
  • Health Care Quality
  • Health Care Reform
  • Healthy Living
  • Heart Conditions
  • Hospital Operations
  • How We Do It
  • Learning and Growing
  • Meet The Team
  • Nurses Week 2012
  • Patient Family Experience
  • Patient Flow
  • Patient Safety
  • Patient Stories
  • Pin of the Week
  • Radiology
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Research
  • Research and Discoveries
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Share Your Story
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • Vaccines
  • Volunteerism
  • What Makes Us Different
  • What's New
See All Topics
See Less Topics

Subscribe

Never miss a post! Sign up to get new blog updates delivered to your email.

Popular Posts

  • 6 Questions to Ask When Your Child Complains of Chest Pain 1.7k views
  • Caring for the Caregivers of Children with Congenital Heart Disease  1.7k views
  • Febrile Seizures: Why They Happen and What to Do 739 views
  • Laryngomalacia: Is My Child’s Noisy Breathing Serious? 654 views
  • Bedwetting Solutions: Tips for Helping Your Child Overcome It 651 views
  • Stuttering In Young Kids: When To Be Concerned 648 views
About

The Cincinnati Children’s blog features thoughts and perspectives from our experts on all things pediatric health. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn More »

Contact Us
  • 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026
  • 1-513-636-4200 | 1-800-344-2462
  • TTY: 1-513-636-4900
  • socialmedia@cchmc.org
Connect With Us
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us

© 2009-2022 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center