National Academies to study breastfeeding support and policy in the United States

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) is convening an expert committee to conduct a consensus study on breastfeeding in the United States. The study aims to analyze the macroeconomic, social, and health impacts of current breastfeeding rates and to identify policies, programs, and investments needed to improve promotion, initiation, and support.

The committee will investigate best practices for clinicians, healthcare systems, and employers, with a specific focus on supporting mothers in poverty. Additionally, the study will examine how insurers implement lactation services and reimbursement standards to support exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.

In a related cultural context, Black Breastfeeding Week is observed annually from August 25-31. This observance highlights the historical and social complexities faced by Black women, including the reclamation of bodily autonomy and the effort to overcome systemic stigmas and historical traumas associated with nursing.