Much has been written about disparities in US society—education, health care, income, and law enforcement, to name  few—and the importance of leveling the playing field. This talk describes two kinds of unlevel playing fields—the broad social field and the personal, local, community field—and applies them to maternal-child health, specifically breastfeeding and prematurity. Through discussion, lecture, and small group exercises, participants will explore different types of disparities and tools to address them, including advocacy and policy, clinical practice, and family and community support. The talk can be expanded to include birth in general.

Breastfeeding occurs in the context of multiple cultures: US culture; the ethnic and national culture of the mother and family; medical culture. This talk considers the roles of culture and interpreters in breastfeeding support; health care as a cultural system; and forms of milk sharing–cross nursing, wet nursing, milk kinship, milk banking, and the monetization of milk exchange. We also examine two examples of cultural influence on breastfeeding practice: colostrum taboo, and “yuck factor” in use of donor milk.

Successful infant feeding is crucial to the survival of babies and the human race. Throughout history and across the world, societies have had to address alternatives to maternal breastfeeding. We will present an overview of the history of infant feeding, including the forces involved in the decline of breastfeeding and wet nursing and the rise of “scientific” infant feeding, commercial infant formulas and milk banking. We will also define and discuss milk kinship practiced in Islam, and throughout the Far East and Middle East. We will cover as well the forces and organizations involved in the rise of breastfeeding, milk sharing and milk banking over the last 2-3 decades, and the social, economic and commercial forces impacting infant feeding today. We will conclude with a discussion of how history can help us understand and influence future trends.

This workshop covers the history of milk sharing, wet nursing, milk banking, and the medicalization of birth and infant feeding. We will also look at human milk banking today – the differences between hospital-based and independent milk banks, uses of banked milk, and an overview of the process of screening donors and processing milk.

Myths abound about donating and receiving donor milk. This talk gives the straight scoop on why donor milk is so important, and explains the difference between getting or sharing milk online and using a milk bank to donate or receive breast milk.

Human milk has been a commodity of exchange for millennia. This talk explores contemporary ethical issues in human milk exchange, including donation vs. payment, safety for recipients, protection for suppliers, allocation of this scarce resource, and making the resource less scarce.

This talk uses research literature and hospital policies and programs to explore ways for families of babies in the NICU to be meaningful and active members of the NICU care team. We will look at a global snapshot of prematurity; define what a team is and who is on the NICU care team; and discuss the short- and long-term goals of the NICU care team, as well as many tools and strategies that team members and the team as a whole have at their disposal to reach those goals. Can be adapted for US or global audiences.

This workshop covers the practical aspects of using banked human milk in NICUs and other hospital units. It covers current research on the benefits and appropriate uses of human milk and describes the ordering, handling, dispensing, and charting use of the milk.

This workshop discusses medical evidence, financial incentives, and social forces affecting breastfeeding and breast milk feeding of newborns in hospital and at home. Topics include use of and access to human milk as standard of care in hospital NICUs and nurseries, informal milk sharing, and donor human milk banking.

This talk addresses two ethical issues as they relate to breastfeeding support and milk banking:  informed consent and access to care that includes breast milk feeding. Topics include a brief history, definitions of these basic medical ethical concepts, and their relationship to breastfeeding.

This talk addresses the practical aspects of establishing a donor milk program in a NICU or nursery. It includes a brief history of milk banking, the medical evidence supporting use of donor milk, cost, and steps toward establishing a hospital’s donor milk program.

This talk addresses implementation of a donor milk program in the NICU or nursery, including safety of donor milk, talking to parents, and special concerns for Level 1 and 2 nurseries.

Building Breastfeeding Bridges is a new, fun game to help your breastfeeding organization or coalition identify its most pressing challenges and to develop effective strategies to meet those challenges, while engaging members and other stakeholders. The game expands and personalizes as you play it.