Breastfeeding Advocacy: What you can do

Breastfeeding Advocacy: What you can do

Public policy strongly influences breastfeeding success

Too many women struggle with roadblocks to breastfeeding success. These obstacles can be addressed with legislation, policy, regulations, by writing to insurance companies and hospitals, and by working directly with employers and hospitals.

We need you to advocate for breastfeeding families

Let your voice be heard! It is very important that our elected officials, state health departments, hospital executives, employers, and insurers hear the public ask for better breastfeeding support.

Click here to join the MBC Legislative Action Mailing List

Join our mailing list to participate in planning and advocacy efforts. Our goal is to pass at least one breastfeeding-related law in 2008.

Public Health Begins with Breastfeeding

Visit our online store to purchase bumper stickers and tote bags with our slogan, "Public Health Begins with Breastfeeding." Proceeds support the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition.

Speak out now on key issues

Urge your congressperson to support federal breastfeeding legislation.
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney has introduced HR 2236, a bill to protect working moms from discrimination, provide tax incentives for businesses, and make breastfeeding support costs tax deductible. You can view the cosponsors and status of the bill. We need 200 cosponsors in the House, and we only have 23 now. The only Massachusetts sponsors are Representatives Barney Frank and John Oliver. Urge your representative to cosponsor this bill.
Protect a mother's right to nurse in public (S. 2438)
Massachusetts is one of only 13 states with no legislation protecting a mother's right to breastfeed her baby in a public space. The Senate passed the bill unanimously on January 29. Join our mailing list so that we can let you know how to help as the bill moves through the House. Talking points.
Support nursing mother in the workplace
One third of new mothers return to work by 3 months post-partum. We need legislation and employee policies ensuring women have time and space to express milk during the work day. Talking points.
License lactation consultants (S 1210)
Licensing protects mothers, assuring that they are getting support from qualified professionals. Its also an important step toward insurance coverage for lactation support, which would decrease health care disparities. Talking points.
Fight hospital-based formula marketing
Too many Massachusetts hospitals continue to pitch brand-name formula to new mothers, despite abundant evidence that it undermines medical recommendations. Learn more at http://www.banthebags.org.

Write your legislator and say that you oppose H2257, a formula-industry backed bill that would require hospitals to stock formula samples and "educational materials." Read more about why this bill is bad for public health.
Advocate for improved maternity leave
Paid maternity leave allows mothers to stay home longer, helping to foster breastfeeding and establish a good milk supply.
Support public health funding
The state needs funding for public health efforts to increase breastfeeding rates, including efforts to make all maternity hospitals Baby Friendly.

Use our 1-page handout to make the case to your hospital.
MBC's Lobbying Day
If you missed our Spring 2007 Lobbying Day, you can view and download the handouts we gave legislators: One-page summary & LC Licensing Bill.

Make your voice heard!

Find your state and federal representatives, through the Massachusetts Elections Guide

Tips for contacting elected officials.

Talking points on some current hot breastfeeding topics - we can give you some ideas of what to say.

Be effective:

Learn what language works best for breastfeeding advocacy, whether writing letters or talking to peers and colleagues. See our essay, Making the Case: Effective Language for Breastfeeding Advocacy.

Current Massachusetts legislation:

Massachusetts currently has no breastfeeding legislation, despite repeated efforts by some legislators. Learn about current bills filed.

Massachusetts Medical Society's breastfeeding resolution:

Use MMS's resolution to help make the case for breastfeeding.

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