1. The WV Breastfeeding Alliance
Our Mission:
To improve the health of West Virginians by working collaboratively to protect, promote, and educate our community about breastfeeding.
WV Perinatal Partnership
The West Virginia Hospital Association
The Healthcare Education Foundation
of West Virginia

2. Importance of Breastfeeding

4. Health Implications for Babies
feeding ABM to babies increases risk of:
Obesity
Ear infections
Respiratory infections
Gastrointestinal infections
Skin conditions
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
Leukemia
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
AAP 2005

5. Breastfeeding Moms Mothers who breastfeed are at a lower risk of:
Premenopausal breast cancer
Ovarian cancer
Osteoporosis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Postpartum depression
Type 2 diabetes
Office of Women’s Health

6. The State of Breastfeeding

7. WV vs. US Breastfeeding Rates Ever Breastfeed 53.0% 75.0%
53.0% 75.0%
Breastfeeding at 6 months
25.9% 43.0%
Breastfeeding at 12 months
12.5% 22.4%
Exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months
18.3% 33.0%
Exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months
7.0% 13.3%
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Breastfeeding Report Card, 2007 Births; 2010 report

8. Why WV rates are low Breastfeeding is not seen as the social norm
Cultural and societal barriers and biases exist
Lack of policies & practices to support breastfeeding in public,
workplaces and in the medical community

9. Maternity Care Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care : mPINC
Nationwide survey administered by the CDC in 2007 and 2009, then every 2 years. 7 sections/52 questions.
All hospitals and birth centers in US were invited to participate. To be completed by person most knowledgeable about the issues.
84% of the 32 eligible hospitals and birth centers in WV responded
Each of those received their facility-specific benchmarks in October 2008, 2009 benchmarks to be released in summer 2011.
CDC,
The survey contains 7 sections, 52 questions. Best score is Each hospital is scored, these are then compiled into a state score and ranked on a national level.

10. 55 WV mPINC Score Summary Highest possible score:100 WV rank
Plans underway to conduct the survey again in 2011
WV mPINC Score 55

11. Changes in Maternity Care Practices Improve Breastfeeding Rates
2006 National Immunization Survey
7 states had less than 30% of children breastfed for 6 months
Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and West Virginia
Same 7 states with the lowest 2007 mPINC scores (48-58)

12. What are we doing to address this?
Certified Lactation Specialist Trainings
Nov. ‘08 (76) May ‘09 (51) Dec. ‘10 (53)
Breastfeeding Symposium – June 2010
“Road Show”

13. Pathways to Improve Maternity Care Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care
Project funded by DHHS/Office on Women’s Health
Develop and pilot a 4-hour Breastfeeding Basics “Road Show” course to take to hospitals
Expert Advisory Panel established to develop project
Faculty: Mary Boyd, MD, Pres. WV Chapter AAP; Susan Fabry, C-PNP, Huntington Pediatrics; Cinny Kittle, MS, WVHA, Project Director WVBA; Christine Compton, CLS, Project Manager WVBA.

14. Pilot sites CAMC/Women’s and Children’s Hospital
Greenbrier Valley Medical Center
Camden Clark Medical Center
Also conducting 1 regional course with St. Joseph’s Hospital, Stonewall Jackson Hospital and Davis Memorial Hospital at WV Wesleyan College

15. 5 Breastfeeding Supportive hospital practices:
Initiate breastfeeding
1st hour after delivery
Avoid other fluids & solids unless
medically necessary
Promote 24-hour Rooming-in
No bottles or pacifiers while
infant is in hospital
Provide moms with contact information for where to call for help after discharge

16. The Joint Commission Revised Perinatal Care Core Measure Set
Now includes “exclusive feeding of breastmilk at discharge”
Online resources
USBC online implementation toolkit

17. Worksites DOL regulations WVBA mini-grants to worksites
Business Case For Breastfeeding project

18. National Attention to B/F
First Lady’s Let’s Move
US Breastfeeding Protection Act
IRS accepts breastfeeding supplies as allowable medical expenses (i.e. breast pumps)
DOL regulations