Every year during Black Maternal Health Week, we are called to remember the mothers and babies we’ve lost—and to take action to protect the ones we still have.

We live and work in Durham, North Carolina—the so-called “City of Medicine.” But despite our proximity to world-class medical institutions, Black families here face an alarming and preventable truth: Black women and babies are still dying at disproportionate rates. One of the most powerful interventions we have to change that trajectory is also one of the oldest—breastfeeding.

Over the past two years, we’ve heard concerning rumors that Duke Regional Hospital does NOT plan to renew its Baby-Friendly designation, and that Duke University Hospital does NOT intend to pursue this initiative.

We initiated this work because Black women and babies were, and continue to be, disproportionately affected by adverse health outcomes in our city. That’s why we launched the Ten Steps to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community, a public health initiative rooted in equity, accountability, and care. These Ten Steps are not aspirational—they are achievable, evidence-based benchmarks that ensure every family has access to consistent lactation support in every part of their lives: clinics, businesses, schools, workplaces, parks, and beyond.

As the 119th Congress kicks off, breastfeeding advocates are making their voices heard on Capitol Hill. This is a pivotal moment to urge lawmakers to prioritize policies that support breastfeeding families.

Breastfeeding is a bipartisan issue—legislators from both parties can agree on the importance of removing barriers to lactation success and ensuring that all families have the support they need. Now is the time for Congress to take action on policies that directly impact infant health and family well-being.

Key priorities include:

• Infant nutrition security
• Federal funding for breastfeeding initiative
• Paid family & medical leave
• Access to lactation support & supplies
• Improved maternity care practices

These priorities were identified by a broad group of stakeholders and are crucial to creating lasting change for families across the country. We need your help to educate policymakers on the real needs of families.

Take action today to amplify these critical issues and ensure that lawmakers work together to create policies that support breastfeeding and the well-being of infants and parents.

Here is one thing healthcare providers can do each day this week to impact health equity.

1. Observe and Act: I encourage you to take a moment to walk around the waiting area and other patient-facing spaces within your care facility. Look for formula advertising. If you find any, please consider removing it. This action, though small, can make a significant difference in promoting a breastfeeding-friendly environment.
2. Normalize Breastfeeding: Check if there are posters or materials that normalize human milk feeding. If not, do you have the authority or the means to install a poster or display educational materials? Breastfeed Durham is here to support you with resources designed to foster an environment supportive of chest/breastfeeding. Order a new poster or print a new handout today.
   • Posters and Canvases: Accessible via Breastfeed Durham Shop (Or request financial assistance)
   • Printable Resources: Available at Breastfeed Durham Printable Resources
   • Feel free obtain your resources from other sources: Amazon, National Perinatal Association, Ready Set Baby
3. Review one technique
   • for hand expression: Global Health Media Video (7 minutes)
   • or going back to work: NC Making It Work Tool Kit (5 minutes)
4. Send an email asking about your Breastfeeding-Friendly Office Policy
   • If You Have One: Review it and share it.
   • If You Don’t: Email your leadership suggesting the adoption of a policy. Start with this sample policy for guidance.
5. Complete one Breastfeeding University module. (20 minutes)
6. Connect one family with Breastfeeding Community Resources
   • Link families to lactation consultants and support groups. 
     • Lactation Support Web Page
     • Durham Community Breastfeeding Resource Page PDF
   • Share information on workshops and classes. 
     • Breastfeeding Groups and Classes Web Page
     • Breastfeeding Events by Date
7. Register today for Equity in Infant Feeding and Family Health Nutrition Workshops

Research unequivocally positions Breastfeeding Friendly practices as a pivotal method for bridging these health disparities. A notable study, “The Breastfeeding-Friendly Pediatric Office Practice” by Joan Younger Meek, MD, et al., in Pediatrics (2017), illuminates the transformative power of integrating breastfeeding support within pediatric care. This groundbreaking work, alongside inspiring outcomes from Mississippi, underscores the potential impact of concerted efforts in this domain.