Breastfeeding Fast Facts

Breastfeeding is a public health priority that has suprising benefits. Read more to learn some interesting facts about breastfeeding.

1

You can burn 600 or more calories per day, leading to possible weight loss.
2

A breastfeeding mother may leak or let down milk if they think about their baby.
3

The size of a person’s breast should not impact how much milk they make.
4

Babies are born nearsighted but can see their parent’s face while feeding at the breast.
5

Human milk contains antibodies that can prevent illness in babies.
6

Human milk can be used for other things such as clogged tear ducts, eczema, milk baths, and diaper rash.
7

In the evenings and overnight, human milk contains melatonin (sweet dreams, baby!)
8

Breast milk is protective against postpartum depression and anxiety.
9

Extended nursing is still beneficial for you and your baby.
10

Practicing guided imagery via a twenty minute audio recording of progressive relaxation and imagining milk flow helps the lactating person express almost twice as much milk. (Feher, Berger, Johnson, and Wilde)

Here’s what you need to know about African American and Latina women and their access to safe, lactation spaces in the workplace…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data from 2016, both Black and Hispanic women have lower breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates compared to white women. This could be influenced by various factors, including workplace support.

  • Workplace breastfeeding accommodations: Black and Hispanic women are more likely to work in jobs that have less access to breastfeeding accommodations, such as private lactation rooms or breaks for pumping. Many of these jobs may not provide adequate support for breastfeeding mothers.
  • Awareness and knowledge: Research has shown that African American and Hispanic women may be less aware of their rights regarding breastfeeding in the workplace, leading to reduced advocacy for accommodations.
  • Support from employers: Some studies suggest that Black and Hispanic women are less likely to receive adequate support from their employers when it comes to balancing work and breastfeeding, compared to white women.
  • Maternity/Parental leave policies: BIPOC women are more likely to be employed in jobs that have less access to paid maternity leave or longer unpaid leave, which can impact their ability to continue breastfeeding after returning to work.
  • Cultural factors: Cultural beliefs and norms may also influence breastfeeding practices, including the perception of breastfeeding in public or pumping at work.
  • Breastfeeding Initiation Rates: According to a Community and Child Health Network Study, the initiation of breastfeeding and intention to continue breastfeeding after hospital discharge varies by race, with:
    • 61% of Black participants initiating breastfeeding and 57% intending to continue breastfeeding after hospital discharge
    • 91% of Hispanic Spanish-speaking participants initiating breastfeeding and 92% intending to continue breastfeeding after hospital discharge
    • 90% of Hispanic English-speaking participants initiating breastfeeding and 88% intending to continue breastfeeding after hospital discharge

Fortunately, efforts are being made to address these disparities and improve workplace breastfeeding support, including legal protections which are in place in many countries to ensure that breast/chestfeeding parents have the right to reasonable accommodations at work and many organizations that center their work on reducing racial disparities and creating an equity-focused lens when it comes to human milk feeding and the workplace.