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Volume 1, Issue 2 A p r i l — J u l y 2 0 0 9

Carolina BEBES Student Group

Makes Its Debut Welcoming New Faces to the Carolina Carolina BEBES made its debut early this Breastfeeding Institute year by hosting two successful events on UNC’s campus. The first event, organized As CBI continues to grow, we are pleased to welcome sev- by Rebecca Costello, Pam Dardess, Eliza- eral new faces: beth Jenson, and Hannah Pollet (founding members of BEBES), was a film-screening Thea Calhoun-Smith has joined CBI as of ―The Business of Being Born.‖ Follow- the Business Services Coordinator ing the screening, a panel— consisting of (Program Assistant). She comes to CBI a , Rebecca Costello; midwife, Kim with experience at UNC Medical School Dau; educator, Ruthie Wiley; and years of work in the pharmaceutical consultant, ; and industry and says that her current posi- a new , Jamie Brie Murray— led an tion allows her to blend what she interesting discussion among attendees. learned in both environments. Thea The following week, BEBES held their in- notes the passion that everyone brings augural organization meeting, in which to the job at CBI. She notes the positive the group generated numerous ideas re- environment, ―there are no big I’s or lit- garding their involvement in campus and tle u’s – it’s just everyone working to- community activities. Also discussed was gether to accomplish the goals of CBI.‖ the development of a monthly brown bag education series for students and faculty. The first lecture in this series is scheduled Barbara Cameron, MA, MSW, has for April 20 at 12pm and will be led by joined CBI as Project Director of the Pam Dardess. Pam will present her re- ―Breastfeeding-friendly Childcare in Wake search findings examining attitudes to- County.‖ Barbara’s passion for - wards breastfeeding among white and feeding stems from her experience moth- African American women. Further details ering her two small children. She states will soon be available on the CBI website. that ―it’s wonderful to be working with smart and thoughtful people who care For more information, contact Hannah about breastfeeding as much as I do.‖ Pollet at [email protected].

In This Issue: Nathan Nickel, PhD candidate, has joined CBI as a Graduate Student Re-  Carolina BEBES 1 searcher, working on the Breastfeeding- friendly Health Care Initiative. Nathan  New Faces at CBI 1 was drawn to CBI’s ―focus on real-world application of public health theories and  Breastfeeding and Feminism 2 methods‖ and the chance to work on a project ―that will ultimately change hos-  NC Banking Update 2 pital practices to promote breastfeeding in NC.‖ Nathan sums up the experience  Note from the Director 3 of working at CBI by saying, ―We are all  CBI Events and Updates 4 in this together. The camaraderie that exists here is spectacular.‖

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Donor Milk Banking in North America

―The goal The Human Milk Banking Association of died, the more typical donor is a mother of the North America (HMBANA) currently has 11 who is breastfeeding her healthy term in- symposium HMBANA member milk banks. In 2008 the fant. These take time out of their banks dispensed over a million ounces of busy days to express an extra 2-6 ounces was to re- donor milk from hundreds of mothers. to share with babies who need human milk orient the when their own mothers cannot provide it. The March issue of O Magazine had a Each of these mothers is a hero to the paradigm compelling article written by NC journal- families of the many babies whose lives ist Bonnie Rockman, featuring stories on in which were improved or saved by donor milk. donors and recipients associated with the breast- Mothers’ Milk Bank at WakeMed in Raleigh Research continues to support human milk feeding is and other HMBANA member milk banks. as the standard of care for feeding all pre- viewed as Although the featured donor is a mother term . To find out more about donor a ―lifestyle who donated several thousand ounces of human milk banking, being a donor or or- expressed milk after her preterm triplets dering donor milk go to www.HMBANA.org. choice‖ to a paradigm in which it 4th Annual Breastfeeding and Feminism Symposium: is a civil From Birthplace to Workplace right, a One hundred and twelve participants from 11 states, the District of Columbia and human Puerto Rico and from 4 countries gathered in North Carolina on March 26-27, 2009 to examine the issue of breastfeeding ―From Birthplace to Workplace‖ from feminist and right and a other perspectives. The purpose of the meeting was to work together in a transdiscipli- social nary manner to create a policy agenda for action to promote breastfeeding. The goal justice was to re-orient the paradigm in which breastfeeding is viewed as a ―lifestyle choice‖ to issue.‖ a paradigm in which it is a civil right, a human right and a social justice issue. This new paradigm ensures the social, economic and political considerations necessary to pro- mote, protect and support breastfeeding by enabling the mother and child to succeed. This group, including academics and service providers, civil servants and elected officials, mothers and babies, and business owners and community organizers and volunteers, found many areas of agree- ment and common concerns. Outcomes of the meeting included a consensus statement with specific suggestions for feasible and im- mediate actions in the United States that take into account current economic conditions, based on evidence-based ideas about the im- portance of breastfeeding and the environmental factors that make it possible. In order to improve breastfeeding across all racial, ethnic and eco- nomic groupings for the health of the nation and in the context of recognition of women’s rights, the group stands ready to protect, promote and support all efforts to enhance and facilitate the ad- Paige Hall Smith, mother of the sympo- vancement of breastfeeding and feminism. The consensus statement sium series, speaking to participants calls upon government and civil society decision-makers to take about women’s experience with steps towards protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding. breastfeeding and work Specific recommendations are based in birthing, immediate postpar- tum, homecoming and workplace. The symposium was held at the University of North Carolina Greensboro campus and was hosted by the UNCG Center for Women’s Health and Wellness and the UNC Carolina Breastfeeding Institute. In addition, the Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Depart- ment of Health and Human Services sponsored this meeting along with Trader Joe’s in Chapel Hill, NC and Women’s and Gender Studies at UNCG.

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Note from the Director: Thoughts on the Media Hype

Caption Dear Friends: describing 2009 has been an exciting yearpicture to date,or governments and families to enable with ups and downs and sideways’graphic. for women to breastfeed their children, re- breastfeeding momentum. At CBI our framing the question to address the true work in North Carolina is taking off. The problem: lack of societal support. baseline data collection instrument for breastfeeding in health care settings and CBI prepared a response noting the in settings are ready to go, breadth and depth of evidence, the fact Miriam Labbok, and work is being planned for years to that US society does indeed make it dif- come. We co-hosted two important in- ficult for women to succeed in breast- Director of the ternational meetings (see pages 2,4) feeding, and that there are many impor- Carolina and will be participating in the Lactation tant issues that deserve public discus- Breastfeeding Consultant Compehensive Update. sion and support. To view the letter to Institute the editor and co-signers, visit the CBI Also, during the last quarter, much website. sturm und drang surrounded an article in the Atlantic Monthly, "The Case Against We hope that someday soon the energy Breastfeeding." The article written by now being dedicated to creating conflict ―It would be among mothers will be rather dedicated Hanna Rosin, a writer who admittedly very sad lacks experience and expertise in critiqu- to helping women to have accurate in- formation upon which to form decisions. ing scientific literature, argues that the indeed if this scienceIn November, behind several the stu- benefits Members of breast- of theSuch new student headlining and ―critique‖ of the feedingdents with is notthe Carolinasound. She alsogroup purports are excited health to have literature a could undo the efforts article [in thatBreastfeeding the popular Institute media’s promotionvoice on campus of of and decades around of public and private health education. It would be very sad indeed if the Atlantic breastfeedingstarted a student getsgroup in thethe waycommunity of on breast- this article results in even one mother women’sknown as Carolina achievements. BEBES Unfortunately,feeding issues. choosing not to breastfeed. Monthly] being(Breastfeeding: presented Evidence as a case against breastfeeding, it only misinforms the Based Education & Support). On a happier note, the amount of infor- results in public and creates ill-informed contro- mation on the website continues to grow versyCarolina and BEBES finger will start pointing. This article even one logarithmically. Please check out our couldhosting have events addressed and holding the same issues website at www.sph.unc.edu/ morestudent productively meetings during in the the context of the mother breastfeeding. Feedback and suggestions needspring for 2009 health semester. systems, social systems, are appreciated ([email protected]). choosing not to CBI Supports the One Million Campaign: breastfeed.‖ Enabling Women to Breastfeed

Initiated by the International Action Netwrk—Asia (IBFAN- Asia) and CBI associate Arun Gupta, the One Million Campaign brings together people from all over the world to take action in enabling women to breastfeed. Actions for this campaign range from signing petitions demanding support for breastfeeding women to individual acts such as pledging to support at least one breastfeeding woman. To join the campaign visit: www.onemillioncampaign.org. P a g e 4

Recent and Upcoming Events/Updates World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action- North America (WABA-NA) Meet- ing, March 27-28 The 2nd meeting of WABA-NA was held March 27-28 in Greensboro, NC. Twenty-four representatives of various breastfeeding organizations attended from Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The meeting was hosted by International and the Carolina Breastfeeding Institute. In addition, CBI hosted a reception for at- tendees of both the Breastfeeding and Feminism Symposium (see page 2) and the

WABA-NA meeting. “To create an Childbirth Connection hosts their 90th Anniversary Symposium, April 3 enabling en- The theme of this year’s symposium is ―Transforming Maternity Care; A High Value Proposition.‖ Miriam Labbok is a member of the Maternity Care Clinicians and Health vironment, at Professions Educators Workgroup of the Symposium Stakeholders. the commu- La Leche League of North Carolina 2009 Area Conference, April 3-5 nity, state, La Leche League of North Carolina will be hosting their annual breastfeeding and par enting conference in Raleigh, NC April 3-5. Miriam Labbok will speak to attendees on national and enabling breastfeeding locally and globally. In addition, Jan Tedder, a friend of CBI, global levels, will be speaking about ways to understand and respond to baby communication. in which Comprehensive Update (LCCU), April 27–May 1 every mother The Lactation Consultant Comprehensive Update is an in-depth overview of human lactation and breastfeeding management. It is designed to prepare experienced clini- is supported cians to provide optimal breastfeeding care to mothers and babies, as well as prepare clinicians for the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) Exam. to achieve Mary Rose Tully is one of the organizers and course directors for the LCCU and Miriam optimal Labbok will be presenting one of the guest lectures. and young Mother’s Day, May 11 child feeding CBI wishes mothers everywhere a very Happy Mother’s Day! The 7th Annual Triangle Breastfeeding Alliance Conference, May 13 and care, and The theme of this year’s conference is ―Breastfeeding Support: Beyond the Basics for every child Special Populations.‖ Mary Rose Tully will be presenting evidence-based care practices achieves its of late preterm infants at the meeting. full potential Charlotte AHEC Mother’s Special Gifts Conference, May 18 through the The purpose of this program is to promote breastfeeding initiation and maintenance by providing current, evidenced-based, clinically relevant concepts of breastfeeding best start on and lactation management. Miriam Labbok and Mary Rose Tully will be presenting at this conference in Charlotte, NC. life.” Global Health Council Conference, May 26–30 The Global Health Council’s 36th Annual Conference, ―New Technologies + Proven Strategies = Healthy Communities‖, will highlight the ways in which technologies in combination with best practices and evidence-based policies improve health around the world. Miriam Labbok will be leading the mid-year meeting of the APHA Interna- tional Health Section on Thursday, May 28.

We welcome your feedback: please send your comments and suggestions to [email protected].

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