Breastfeeding Overview

CWA is working with multiple partners to improve breastfeeding rates among low-income women in California. Our goals are to increase initiation and duration of breastfeeding, particularly exclusive breastfeeding, as well as promote greater acceptance of breastfeeding as the accepted norm.

Governor’s Breastfeeding Proclamation 2008

The Power of Peer Counseling

As part of our series on Preventing Obesity in Early Childhood, CWA and the UC Davis Human Lactation Center is releasing a new policy brief titled: Increasing Exclusive Breastfeeding in WIC, The Power of Peer Counseling. The brief establishes peer counseling as a cost-effective means to increase breastfeeding rates and improve infant health. Peer counselors work because they understand the difficulties and provide realistic and practical guidance as a result of shared personal backgrounds and experiences as the mom, in ways that most health professionals cannot. The brief recommends that peer counseling should be expanded and permanently integrated into WIC programs around the country to ensure that all participants have access to culturally competent and effective breastfeeding support. The brief also has recommendations to 1) assure availability of peer counselors, 2) ensure continuity of care and 3) improve training and accountability for outcomes. To read the entire brief.

Hospital Breastfeeding Rates Reports

On September 3, in collaboration with the Human Lactation Center at UC Davis, CWA released the third hospital breastfeeding rates report: Depends on Where You are Born: California Hospitals Must Close the Gap in Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates. Using breastfeeding data collected by the hospitals, the report examines inequities among hospitals in terms of exclusive breastfeeding rates. The report takes a close look at hospitals with lowest exclusive breastfeeding rates, shows how institutions have improved exclusive breastfeeding rates by adopting California Model Hospital Policies recommended by the California Department of Public Health, and urges substantive policy changes to ensure that poorly performing hospitals take concrete steps to improve long term health outcomes in low-income California communities. Accompanying county fact sheets provide details for each birth hospital.

Earlier reports, A Fair Start for Better Health: California Hospitals Must Close the Gap in Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates, released in November 2007, and Reducing Obesity From the Start: California Hospitals Must Increase Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates, released in August 2006, have resulted in dramatic improvements in hospitals across the state. Each report includes county fact sheets. 2007 County Fact Sheets   2006 County Fact Sheets

Breastfeeding Legislation

CWA sponsored and with help from the breastfeeding coalitions, passed, SB 22 (Migden 2007) that includes several provisions for improved support of breastfeeding including:

  • Streamlining Medi-Cal regulations for breastfeeding
  • Education on the California Model Hospital Policies, for hospital administrators in hospitals with the lowest breastfeeding rates
  • Funding for expanding breastfeeding peer counselor programs if funding becomes available

Read the bill at: www.senate.ca.gov

Additionally CWA provides advocacy and media training for breastfeeding advocates on an ongoing basis for statewide events and coalition meetings.

Current breastfeeding legislation that needs your support!

Worksite Lactation Accommodation

CWA is working with lactation advocates across the state to improve lactation support in the workplace in order for mothers to continue to breastfeed upon return to work. California law requires employers to provide a place and time for mothers to express breastmilk. CWA has published a policy brief with recommendations for improving worksite lactation accommodation especially in the low-wage worksite. CWA is also sponsoring SB 257 (Pavley) that requires all state agencies to inform employees of the worksite lactation accommodation law upon maternity leave.


Current breastfeeding legislation that needs your support!

Breastfeeding Policy Papers

Working with Dr. Jane Heinig and the Human Lactation Center at UC Davis CWA published and disseminated two breastfeeding policy briefs, for use in federal, state and local issues education with key decision makers. The briefs cover the breastfeeding-obesity link and overcoming barriers to breastfeeding in low-income communities.

Streamlining Medi-Cal

Working with members of the lactation community and the Department of Health Care Services, CWA is tackling the complex Medi-Cal regulations related to breastfeeding consultations and equipment. Steps are being taken to streamline the regulations, in order to make it easier for lactation professionals to tap this important resource. This could dramatically improve access to critical breastfeeding services among women who currently have very little direct support when they need it.


Current breastfeeding legislation that needs your support!

Breastfeeding Awareness Walk

The California WIC Association and the California Breastfeeding Coalition with help from the California Department of Public Health WIC and MCH Divisions are organizing walks in communities across California on August 13, 2009. Go to our Breastfeeding Walk page to access the 2009 Planning Toolkit for a walk in your community.

Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace Awards

Start planning for the 2009 Mother Baby Friendly Workplace Awards slated for August 13, 2009. Applications for statewide awards due July 1! This is a collaborative effort between California WIC Association, the California Breastfeeding Coalition, the Regional Breastfeeding Coalitions and the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness.


Check out past years' winners:

Breastfeeding Coalition Partnerships

CWA is the fiscal sponsor of the California Breastfeeding Coalition (CBC) and works closely with the member local breastfeeding coalitions across the state. CWA provides support to the CBC and local coalitions with strategic planning for increasing legislative capacity, advocacy training, needs assessment, sponsorship solicitation for the CBC, and communications support. Click here for the CBC website for important information and updates.

Breastfeeding Ambassadors

Be an agent of change, become a Breastfeeding Ambassador. CWA provides advocacy and media training for breastfeeding advocates. As an ambassador, you can be a contact for local elected official or assist in media interviews. CWA provides all the training and materials needed. Ask your local coalition or contact Robbie Gonzalez-Dow at CWA. Click here for more info.

Breastfeeding Success Stories Website

www.breastfeedforall.org

CWA, supported by the WIC Branch, has launched a new website: “Breastfeeding Success: You Can Do It!” The new site is designed to encourage and support low-income women of color in choosing and staying with breastfeeding, tapping the real-life stories of 12 wonderful moms who were featured in a booklet originally produced by Berkeley WIC. Breastfeeding facts and policy points were added to help advocates educate decision makers, and links are provided to key breastfeeding sites as well.

Breastmilk Use in Hospitals

CWA worked with the Department of Health Services and groups throughout the state to clarify the tissue banking regulations as they relate to the handling and utilization of breastmilk in hospitals. CWA was a co-sponsor of SB246 (Figueroa) which exempts hospitals from being required to have a tissue bank license for milk a mother expresses for her own baby.

Tissue Bank Links & Downloads: