A Saint Louis College research explored the impression of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders on breastfeeding practices within the U.S.
The research, lately printed within the Maternal and Little one Well being Journal, supplies important insights into how pandemic-induced modifications affected breastfeeding habits. Thirty-four % of moms mentioned stay-at-home orders facilitated simpler breastfeeding at dwelling, stronger mother-child bonding, and prolonged breastfeeding length for a lot of girls. Nevertheless, the pandemic additionally introduced vital boundaries, together with restricted entry to lactation assist and heightened maternal stress.
Earlier research on moms’ breastfeeding habits yielded samples of a majority of White, non-Hispanic, well-educated, partnered, and employed respondents. This research surveyed the breastfeeding practices of a giant and various pattern of U.S. moms throughout varied areas, earnings ranges, and racial/ethnic backgrounds.
María José Romo-Palafox, Ph.D., assistant professor of diet and dietetics at SLU, is the paper’s senior writer. Romo-Palafox is a registered dietitian and researcher specializing in maternal-child well being in traditionally marginalized communities.
“As a Mexican immigrant, I’m devoted to addressing the systemic boundaries that disproportionately have an effect on breastfeeding and maternal well being. Observing the pandemic’s impression on breastfeeding illuminated the pressing want for holistic, supportive work insurance policies,” she mentioned. “I’m keen about contributing to options that assist breastfeeding and supply psychological well being and monetary stability sources for moms, creating more healthy outcomes for each moms and kids throughout various backgrounds.”
Breastfeeding is likely one of the finest investments in a toddler’s well being, laying a strong dietary basis early in life. The World Well being Group recommends solely breastfeeding infants as much as six months of age; nevertheless, within the U.S., solely 26% of infants met this suggestion in 2020.
Returning to work has emerged as one of many most important boundaries to unique and continued breastfeeding. Ladies trying to proceed breastfeeding by pumping at work typically discover it difficult to fulfill their targets because of incomplete assist from their administration and group, comparable to the shortage of a delegated lactation house and restricted time to pump.
The U.S. Senate handed the Offering Pressing Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Moms Act in December 2022 and the Pregnant Employees Equity Act.
Whereas beneficial, Romo-Palafox and her group argue that present insurance policies just like the PUMP Act and Pregnant Employees Equity Act might not adequately meet the wants of low-income, racially various moms who typically return to work early out of monetary necessity. The COVID-19 stay-at-home orders offered a novel pure experiment the place many ladies discovered that working from dwelling allowed for extra sustained breastfeeding and promoted stronger mother-infant bonding — this era highlighted that even with present insurance policies, many moms significantly these from traditionally marginalized backgrounds — require extra complete assist past the lactation lodging alone.
Romo-Palafox and her group suggest insurance policies that transcend present mandates by making certain flexibility in work location, particularly for roles that usually require in-person attendance. Moreover, insurance policies ought to embody expanded monetary stability and psychological well being sources alongside telehealth lactation companies.
“For example, providing telehealth choices for lactation consultants by packages like WIC, which proved efficient in the course of the pandemic, is crucial to keep up. Though many packages quickly supplied these versatile companies, they’ve since decreased entry, leaving gaps in assist,” she mentioned. “Reinstating and standardizing telehealth lactation companies for breastfeeding moms, significantly by WIC, would improve breastfeeding success, cut back stress, and higher tackle the distinctive challenges confronted by low-income and various populations.”
Different authors embody Valerie Graham, Division of Vitamin and Dietetics, Saint Louis College; Haley Pritz, Division of Vitamin and Dietetics, Saint Louis College; and Zoe Henkes, Saint Louis College College of Medication.
