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February 2016
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February 2016 // Volume 54 // Number 1 // Ideas at Work // v54-1iw2
Cooperative Extension Answers the Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding
Abstract
Extension has many opportunities to promote breastfeeding, one of the most highly effective preventive measures a mother can take to protect the health of her infant and herself. This article describes how and why Cooperative Extension can and should partner with federal and state efforts to promote breastfeeding. Members of Rutgers' Family and Community Health Sciences department served on state work groups to identify and implement evidence-based strategies for promoting breastfeeding in health care, child care, and work site settings. Extension is an important public health partner, providing technical assistance, content expertise, and resources that meet the needs of communities.
Introduction
Childhood obesity, nutrition education, parenting education, health care cost reduction . . . what one topic relates to all these Extension focus areas? Breastfeeding! From providing direct education and publications to engaging with statewide initiatives, Extension is an important public health partner, and Extension educators have many opportunities to promote breastfeeding.
To a moderate extent, breastfeeding reduces the risk of overweight during childhood (Dewey, 2003). Overweight during childhood is associated with chronic disease (Kim & Peterson, 2008). If 90% of U.S. families complied with medical recommendations to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months, $13 billion in health care costs would be saved annually (Bartick & Reinhold, 2010). An appeal by the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011), Healthy People 2020 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (NPAO) division (Rieker, 2011) for states to coordinate efforts to prevent obesity should mobilize Extension educators to take action.
Background
Medical and dietetic literature champions breastfeeding and advocates for promotion of breastfeeding in the community (Livingston, 2004). However, a review of popular Extension literature found that breastfeeding education is generally a small component of parenting programs; there were eight articles in the Journal of Extension, three in the Forum for Family and Consumer Issues, and three on eXtension.org. Some Extension services address breastfeeding in fact sheets or parent newsletters (Bobroff, 2011; Hughes, Brill, & Hearne-Barsamian, 2011; Napieralsi & Devine, 1999; Nitzke, Tanumihardjo, Rettammel, Coleman, & Harvey, 2005; Sigman-Grant, 2013), and one offers a six-class series taught by a nutrition program educator who is a certified lactation counselor (Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, 2015). This article describes a novel approach by which Cooperative Extension can engage with unique partners to promote breastfeeding through education, policy, and environmental change.
The Federal Government's Role: The Surgeon General, Healthy People 2020, and the CDC
Despite the many advantages of breastfeeding, many women choose to bottle-feed their babies for personal reasons or because of social and structural barriers, such as attitudes and policies regarding breastfeeding in health care and work site settings (Kahn et al., 2009). In 2011, Surgeon General Benjamin called breastfeeding one of the most highly effective preventive measures a mother can take to protect the health of her infant and herself. She identified active involvement and support from communities, health care systems, and employers as key actions to improve breastfeeding rates. Healthy People 2020 set breastfeeding objectives (Table 1), and the CDC's NPAO programs work toward leveraging resources and coordinating statewide efforts that focus on policy, environmental, and behavioral approaches to prevent obesity and other chronic diseases. Working with multiple partners bringing the perspectives of their constituencies, state programs are expected to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions that address six obesity prevention behaviors, one of which is increasing breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity (Table 2) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2011).
| Breastfeeding Objective | Target |
| Infants ever breastfed | 81.9% |
| Breastfed at 6 months | 60.6% |
| Breastfed at 1 year of life | 34.1% |
| Work sites with lactation support programs | 38% |
| Increase in the proportion of live births that occur in facilities that provide recommended care for lactating mothers and their babies | Increase of 8.1% |
| Increase: | Decrease: |
| Breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity | Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages |
| Physical activity | Consumption of energy-dense foods |
| Fruit and vegetable consumption | TV and screen time |
Extension's Contributions to Breastfeeding Promotion in New Jersey
Collaboration with other organizations to reach a common goal is a hallmark of Cooperative Extension (Jouridine & Green, 2001). Since 2009, Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) has been an active partner in New Jersey's NPAO program "Shaping NJ," a public-private partnership of over 200 members coordinated by the New Jersey Department of Health, working to prevent obesity through environmental and policy change. RCE's Department of Family and Community Health Sciences (FCHS) faculty served on work groups that identified proven strategies that promote breastfeeding in health care, child care, and work site settings (Table 3) (New Jersey Department of Health, 2013).
| Health Care | Child Care | Workplace |
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Promote exclusive breastfeeding through proven policies and practices.
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Require child care centers and after-school programs to offer healthful food and beverages, provide opportunities for physical activity, limit television viewing, and support breastfeeding for children in their care.
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Encourage New Jersey businesses to accommodate breastfeeding women. The Business Case for Breastfeeding, a resource that educates employers about the benefits of work site programs, including providing a space for women to express milk, should be distributed widely.
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Health Care: Educating the Providers
To promote breastfeeding in primary care settings, Extension faculty coauthored an original curriculum titled BEST for New Jersey: Breastfeeding Education Support and Training (New Jersey Department of Health, American Academy of Pediatrics, New Jersey Breastfeeding Coalition, 2014) and engaged new partners, including midwives and doulas. Twelve practices (129 participants) received face-to-face training. The curriculum remains available in ShapingNJ's online Health Care Workgroup Resource Toolkit (New Jersey Department of Health ShapingNJ, 2012b).
Best practices in the hospital setting are articulated in the World Health Organization/UNICEF's Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding (Baby-Friendly USA, 2012). Extension faculty serve on the New Jersey Hospital Association's technical advisory panel, which assists maternity hospitals through the Baby-Friendly designation process. Funding, project design, evaluation, and sustainability support is made available. To date, four hospitals are certified, and 22 are on the path to designation.
Child Care
Breastfeeding rates drop significantly when mothers return to work (Laughlin, 2011). Support for breastfeeding mothers who place their infants in child care is critical. In 2010, New Jersey child care licensing regulations contained no references to breastfeeding. Extension educators participated in ShapingNJ focus groups, which recommended licensing revisions to address obesity prevention and breastfeeding. In 2013, new regulations were adopted that require centers to follow a feeding plan developed mutually with each child's parent(s) regarding breastfeeding arrangements and accommodations (New Jersey Register, 2013).
Extension authored two original fact sheets for ShapingNJ's online Child Care Best Practices Toolkit for providers (New Jersey Department of Health ShapingNJ, 2012a). One explains safe handling of breast milk, and the other addresses breastfeeding policy recommendations related to child care facilities' nutrition and infant feeding practices, staff training, breastfeeding support efforts (such as providing private space for nursing), display of breastfeeding literature, and referrals to pertinent resources (Appendixes A and B).
Extension faculty also developed a workshop, Make Your Childcare Center Breastfeeding-Friendly, and presented it at the New Jersey Childcare Association annual conference for child care administrators, teachers, and assistants.
Work Site
Mothers who breastfeed after returning to work face numerous obstacles, some of which have been eliminated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The PPACA requires work sites with 50 or more employees to provide reasonable break time and a place other than a bathroom for an employee to express breast milk for 1 year after the child's birth (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009). Employers benefit from accommodating breastfeeding employees (Table 4) (United States Breastfeeding Committee, 2015). Extension faculty on the work site work group identified evidence-based resources to encourage employers to become breastfeeding-friendly. ShapingNJ's online Worksite Resources tool kit (New Jersey Department of Health Shaping NJ, 2012c) was the sole product of this work group at the time, as meetings were suspended due to loss of group leadership.
| Employer Benefits | Less absenteeism because breastfed infants are healthier | Lower health care costs | Lower employee turnover, which reduces cost of hiring and training new employees | Higher productivity and loyalty | Positive public image |
State breastfeeding coalitions present another opportunity for Extension partnership. Extension faculty on the New Jersey Breastfeeding Coalition codeveloped criteria for a breastfeeding-friendly workplace recognition award. Criteria include a welcoming atmosphere, a breastfeeding support policy allowing breastfeeding mothers to nurse/pump as protected by law, and flexible return-to-work options. The award is currently open for nominations.
Conclusion and Implications
Extension's expertise in nutrition, health, evidence-based obesity prevention strategies, parent education, and work site wellness can be instrumental in moving the nation forward toward meeting its breastfeeding objectives. In New Jersey, Extension's collaboration on statewide initiatives that educate health care providers and guide hospitals through the Baby-Friendly designation process produced measurable results. Extension's collaboration, direct education, and published resources for child care providers led to regulatory and practice changes. Extension identified resources to disseminate to work sites on the benefits of supporting breastfeeding employees. As a result of state initiatives, New Jersey's breastfeeding rates have increased in all categories: ever breastfed, exclusive breastfeeding at 3 and 6 months, and breastfeeding at 6 and 12 months (CDC, 2014).
Extension's access to county and state leadership and the media can be leveraged to promote public health awareness campaigns and events, such as National Breastfeeding Awareness Month every August. Extension's unique status within the land-grant university system positions it to be a strong contender for grants for which smaller organizations may not qualify.
In addition to our role as collaborators, we remain direct educators. As technology plays an increasing role in how people obtain information, Extension's websites and social media are reliable resources for consumers, businesses, child care, and health care providers. Our current programming has the potential to promote breastfeeding. For example, 4-H babysitter training could incorporate instruction on safe breast milk handling and feeding. This would have the added value of normalizing breastfeeding for future generations of parents. Extension educators have a role to play in educating businesses, consumers, and providers about the provisions of the PPACA.
As we continue to educate, we must also recognize that information sharing alone is not likely to result in environmental and/or policy change. Strong collaboration with those who have the necessary power and expertise to bring about recommended environmental changes is indicated (Lu, Dickin, & Dollahite, 2014). State health departments and health care providers, child care licensing agencies and providers, breastfeeding coalitions, and the business community are key collaborators.
References
Baby-Friendly USA (2012). Retrieved from http://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/about-us/baby-friendly-hospital-initiative/the-ten-steps
Bartick, M., & Reinhold, A. (2010). The burden of suboptimal breastfeeding in the United States: A pediatric cost analysis. Pediatrics, 125(5), e1048-e1056. Retrieved from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org.proxy.libraries.rutgers.edu/content/125/5/e1048.full.pdf+html
Bobroff, L. (2011). Feeding your baby. University of Florida IFAS Extension. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HE/HE96400.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (2011). Developing and using an evaluation consultation group. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/downloads/EvaluationConsultationGroup.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014). Breastfeeding report card. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/2014breastfeedingreportcard.pdf
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County. (2015). Breastfeeding for the health of it. Retrieved from http://ccetompkins.org/events/2015/01/01/breastfeeding-for-the-health-of-it
Dewey, K. G. (2003). Is breastfeeding protective against child obesity? Journal of Human Lactation, 19(1), 9–18.
Hughes, L. J., Brill, M. F., & Hearne-Barsamian, J. (2011). Handle with care: Guidelines for safe storage and use of mother's milk. Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension. Retrieved from http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp?pid=fs949
Kahn, L. K., Sobush, K., Keener, D., Goodman, K., Lowry, A., Kakietek, J., & Zaro, S. (2009). Recommended community strategies and measurements to prevent obesity in the United States. CDC. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5807a1.htm
Kim, J. & Peterson, K. E. (2008). Association of infant child care with infant feeding practices and weight gain among US infants. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 162(7), 627–633.
Jouridine, L. A., & Green, S. D. (2001). Extending our reach: Strategic opportunities for Cooperative Extension to promote infant health through sudden infant death syndrome prevention education. Journal of Extension [Online], 39(3) Article 3FEA8. Available at: http://www.joe.org/joe/2001june/a8.php
Laughlin, L. (2011). Maternity Leave and Employment Patterns: 2006–2008. Current Population Report, P70-128. U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/p70-128.pdf
Livingston, S. (2004). Children and weight: Taking action in Solano County. Children and Weight Coalition of Solano County. Retrieved from http://cesolano.ucdavis.edu/files/59754.pdf
Lu, A. H., Dickin, K., & Dollahite, J. (2014). Development and application of a framework to assess community nutritionists' use of environmental strategies to prevent obesity. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 46(6), 475–483.
Napieralsi, J. A., & Devine, C. (1999). Breast-feeding and the risk of breast cancer. Cornell Cooperative Extension. Retrieved from https://dspace.library.cornell.edu/bitstream/1813/14559/1/fs29.breast_feed.pdf
New Jersey Department of Health (2013). New Jersey State Obesity Prevention Plan. Retrieved from http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/shapingnj/library/ShapingNJ%20Obesity%20Prevention%20Plan-Final.pdf
New Jersey Department of Health, American Academy of Pediatrics, New Jersey Breastfeeding Coalition (2014). Educating Practices In Their Communities (EPIC) BEST for New Jersey: Breastfeeding Education Support, & Training. Retrieved from http://aapnj.org/uploadfiles/documents/PCORE/BFHI/031314%20EPIC%20BEST%20Webinar%20Presentation.pdf
New Jersey Department of Health ShapingNJ. (2012a). Child Care Best Practices Toolkit. Retrieved from http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/shapingnj/shapingnj/childcare/childcaretoolkit.html
New Jersey Department of Health ShapingNJ. (2012b). HealthCare Workgroup Resource Toolkit. Retrieved from http://nj.gov/health/fhs/shapingnj/documents/work/publications/Healthcare%20Toolkit%20-%20June%201,%202012.pdf
New Jersey Department of Health ShapingNJ. (2012c). Worksite Resources. Retrieved from http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/shapingnj/documents/work/publications/Worksite%20Resources.pdf
New Jersey Register. Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.njcite.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/CCC-Licensing-regs-adoption-notice-45_NJR_633A-3-18-13-PDF1.pdf
Nitzke. S., Tanumihardjo, S., Rettammel, A., Coleman, G., & Harvey, H. (2005). WIC changes formula provision in January 2006. Nutrition for Family Living. UW Extension. Retrieved from http://www.uwex.edu/ces/WNEP/specialist/nfl/mmpdfs/0511.pdf
Rieker, P. (2011). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Evaluation Technical Assistance Document: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) Partnership Evaluation Guidebook and Resources. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/downloads/partnershipevaluation.pdf
Sigman-Grant, M. (2013). For the health professional: Birthing practices affect breastfeeding outcomes. University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Retrieved from http://nsla.nevadaculture.org/statepubs/epubs/31428003057599.pdf
United States Breastfeeding Committee (2015). Federal workplace law. Retrieved from http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/p/cm/ld/fid=234
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2009). Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/rights/law/patient-protection.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2011). Executive Summary: The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding. Retrieved from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/breastfeeding/executivesummary.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2014). Healthy People 2020. Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/maternal-infant-and-child-health/objectives
Appendix A
ShapingNJ Child Care Best Practices Toolkit Breastfeeding Fact Sheet (available at http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/shapingnj/documents/work/publications/
Child%20Care%20Center%20Tool%20Kit/7.%20Breastfeeding/b.%20Proper%20Handling%20and%20Storage%20of%20Breastmilk.pdf)
Appendix B
ShapingNJ Child Care Best Practices Toolkit Breastfeeding Policy Guidance Fact Sheet (available at http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/shapingnj/documents/work/publications
Child%20Care%20Center%20Tool%20Kit/7.%20Breastfeeding/c.%20Breastfeeding%20Policy%20Guidance.pdf)
