Every now and then something happens in our community that reminds us exactly why this work matters — and how good people respond when it does. This week, a Durham mother sat down to feed her baby at a local ice cream shop and was asked to cover up. For a nursing parent, that moment
A note on the numbers (September 2026): Durham County reported a 62.3 percent reduction in infant mortality over eight years. 2024 was an exceptional year and the rate will settle differently over time, but it is a moment worth celebrating, and human milk feeding is one strand of the County’s coordinated investment behind it. 2024
A 62.3% Reduction in Durham’s Infant Mortality Read More »
At Breastfeed Durham, we know that the health of our planet is inextricably linked to the health of our parents and babies. On April 22, 2026, members of our community gathered for Duke University’s second annual Climate Action Day. The event focused on a critical theme: Building Resilience in Communities. As we face rising temperatures
Protecting Our Future: Takeaways from Duke’s Climate Action Day Read More »
Every family deserves to feel celebrated. On May 3rd, we’re gathering at Hillside Park for an afternoon of music, food, community, and joy — because raising babies is hard, and you shouldn’t have to do it alone. Come as you are. Bring the whole family. Durham Pregnancy Expo & Family Festival When: Sunday, May 3
Pregnancy Expo & Family Festival 2026 Read More »
By Linels Higuera Ancidey, IBCLC, MPH Candidate, UNC Gillings School of Global Public HealthField Placement with Breastfeed Durham, Summer 2025 Breastfeeding is a cornerstone of maternal and child health, yet disparities persist across racial, ethnic, and linguistic groups. Spanish-speaking families in Durham face unique challenges, including limited culturally tailored lactation support and low Baby-Friendly Hospital
Educators and students across North Carolina have shared their experiences with breastfeeding in schools: “With my first baby, I was given no time to pump during End of Course testing… I leaked through my shirt and my jacket and my shoes were soaked in milk. I developed mastitis because I couldn’t pump when I needed
A Need for Statewide Initiative: Take a Stand for Breastfeeding Families Read More »
“All non-locally controlled groceries, food markets, convenience stores, and pharmacies are encouraged to display lactation support information near infant formula/foods and to prevent local advertising of formula. This information may not be provided by the formula industry.”— Step 8.4, Ten Steps to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community Why Step 8.4 Matters Infant feeding choices are shaped
Step 8.4 in Action: Bringing Lactation Support to Store Shelves Across Durham Read More »
By Janiah Fladger, MPH CandidateUNC Gillings School of Global Public HealthField Placement with Breastfeed Durham, Summer 2025 This summer, I spent ten weeks knocking on business doors, managing spreadsheets, tabling at community events, and having deep, unexpected conversations about breastfeeding. As the Recruitment Coordinator for Breastfeed Durham’s Breastfeeding-Friendly Business Awards, I didn’t just help local businesses apply
This Cling Means Something”: Uplifting Families, One Business at a Time Read More »
In August, Breastfeed Durham partnered with Piedmont AHEC to host a powerful session in our First Food Equity Series—this one centered on the deep connection between perinatal mood support and lactation. The conversation, led by Bernadette Greene, Executive Director of Breastfeed Durham, and Kimberly D. Harper, RN, MPH of UNC’s Collaborative for Maternal and Infant Health, brought together research,
Perinatal Mood Support and Lactation: Building Villages of Care Read More »
On Sunday, June 1st, 2025 Breastfeed Durham was honored to join the Rainbow Collective for Change at their Annual Manifest RCC Event at Falls Lake. It was a joyful day of connection, community, and celebration, where we had the chance to share our mission: creating a world where all families feel seen, supported, and empowered
2nd Annual Manifest Rainbow Collective for Change Event Read More »
