The struggles with new mothers and breastfeeding.

Aug 14 2023 • 29 mins

August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Breastfeeding has proven to have health benefits for both mothers and babies in high-income and low-income settings, yet less than 50% of babies worldwide are breastfed according to World Health Organization. Meanwhile, the commercial milk formula industry generates revenues of about $55 billion each year.

The guests on this podcast are Monica Belyea who is a Nutrition Consultant with the CT Department of Public health and Taylor Smith, an Interdisciplinary Doula with strong interests in science, nutrition, herbal remedies and lactation.

Monica's expertise is in Early Childhood health and education systems and infant and young child feeding and nutrition. She focuses on the policies and laws protecting safe and healthy breastfeeding in the workplace and is the Past-Chair of the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition and a Steering Committee member of the Middletown Racial Justice Coalition.

In addition to being a Doula, Taylor is also a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) and is extremely passionate about helping women through their breastfeeding and pregnancy journey. Taylor serves as the current co-chair of the Connecticut Breastfeeding Coaltion. She is currently a participant in Paving the Way: Diversity in Lactation, which is a mentorship program that aims to increase BIPOC numbers in lactation by guiding Women of Color to obtain their International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) credential and she will be sitting for the exam this fall.

Monica talks about the legal rights of mothers to pump in the workplace and the need to make sure marginalized communities are aware of their rights. Taylor says she is trying to increase awareness in minority communities about the benefits of breastfeeding to increase the number of mothers who breastfeed.

CT paid leave provides up to 12 weeks of income replacement so both parents can bond with their child, and breastfeeding can be a big part of that bonding experience.

Find out more about breastfeeding at:
Connecticut Breastfeeding Coalition - Home (breastfeedingct.org)

(20+) Facebook

Breastfeeding Resources (ct.gov)

For benefits or to apply: CT Paid Leave Authority (PFMLA)| Home | Official Site