In This Edition…
The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) published a new blog, "Breastfeeding Still Belongs in the Birth Justice Movement." In the blog, USBC Executive Director Jennifer Day reflects on the growing recognition of midwives and doulas within the birth justice movement and makes the case for keeping breastfeeding and lactation support central to broader birth justice efforts. The blog highlights the importance of strengthening community-based organizations, building connections across care settings, and investing in the policies, systems, and infrastructure that help families access timely, skilled, and culturally congruent care.
The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) launched its 2026 end-of-year giving campaign, "The Work Behind What's Possible," centered on creating a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States. For families, support can mean time to express milk at work, access to lactation care, or trusted help when feeding is hard. Behind that support are the policies, partnerships, and people working to make it possible.
Your gift helps the USBC bring partners together, advance policies, and strengthen the systems that shape families' experiences with breastfeeding and human milk feeding. Make a year-end gift by December 31 to help build a future where support is within reach for every family, wherever they live, work, or seek care.
This Native American Heritage Month, we celebrate the rich histories, cultures, traditions, and enduring contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian peoples.
At the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), we recognize the importance of honoring Indigenous knowledge, uplifting community leadership, and supporting culturally grounded approaches to breastfeeding and human milk feeding. Advancing equity means listening to Indigenous communities and supporting policies and systems that honor their voices, priorities, and traditions.
Help us amplify resources, highlight organizations, and share initiatives that support Indigenous communities throughout the month. Submit relevant materials for consideration.
The World Health Organization (WHO) released new guidelines, "WHO Guidelines on the Integrated Management of Obesity in Children," outlining evidence-informed recommendations for the care and management of children aged 29 days to under 10 years living with obesity. The recommendations emphasize an integrated approach to childhood obesity management, with attention to nutrition, physical activity, and other supportive interventions. Read the press release.
March of Dimes released the "Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the U.S. 2026 Report," examining access to maternity care through county-level analyses of obstetric clinicians, birthing facilities, health insurance coverage, and travel burden. The report finds that one in three U.S. counties remains a maternity care desert, with 5.8 million women and 358,000 infants living in counties without full access to maternity care. It also documents at least 96 labor and delivery unit closures across 35 states between January 2024 and May 2026, highlighting persistent geographic disparities and the need for policies and investments that strengthen maternity care infrastructure and improve access for families.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Data Intermediaries and Approaches To Strengthen Public Health Data Exchange." Public comment deadline: Friday, November 20.
USBC Insight: This opportunity aligns with Objective 7 of Nourishing Thriving Communities, which emphasizes strengthening research and data governance to support informed decision-making and community self-determination. As the CDC considers how health information is exchanged and governed, organizations with relevant expertise can help ensure that emerging systems support meaningful community participation, respect Tribal data sovereignty, and address barriers facing community-based organizations. These considerations also have implications for how breastfeeding and lactation services and outcomes are represented within broader health data systems.
New Mexico Health Care Authority: "Notice of Opportunity to Comment: Proposed Amendments to 8.310.2 and 8.310.16 NMAC." Public comment deadline: Friday, November 6.
Tuesday, November 17:
ABC News: "This employee got Walmart to expand breastfeeding stations in stores across the country"
National Health Law Program: "Over Half the States and Counting: Using Doula Enrollment Numbers to Assess the Status of Medicaid Coverage for Doula Care"
International Breastfeeding Journal: "Effects of digital interventions on breastfeeding-related outcomes: a systematic review and network meta‑analysis"
JAMA Network Open: "Met and Unmet Breastfeeding Goals Following Full-Term Deliveries" Media highlights include:
SSM - Qualitative Research in Health: "'A lot of hoops … to jump through': Doula experiences serving Medicaid clients in states with and without Medicaid doula coverage"
The Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire e-Newsletter is a compendium of news, actions, and resources considered to be of interest or relevance to the breastfeeding field. The newsletter aims to support the USBC mission "To drive collaborative efforts for policy and practices that create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States." Included items are submitted for consideration or identified by the USBC e-news team via extensive online review. Whenever possible, the newsletter utilizes language directly from the primary source of an item without additional analysis or edits. In some cases, the USBC offers additional perspectives through the "USBC Insights," media and partner highlights, and the "News & Views" section. Inclusion of an item in the e-newsletter does not imply endorsement or support by the USBC of an item or organization, unless specifically noted.
U.S. Breastfeeding Committee
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(773) 359-1549 | office@usbreastfeeding.org
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