Breastfeeding

At a Glance

Breastfeeding protects mothers against all types of breast cancer, as it causes protective physiological changes in the breast.

The longer one breastfeeds, the greater the protective benefit.

However, social, cultural and economic factors discourage and prevent many mothers from breastfeeding. In particular, social and cultural barriers lead to lower rates of breastfeeding for U.S.-born Black babies.

Science Summary

Studies of breastfeeding and breast cancer risk measure breastfeeding in three different ways: duration of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding compared to mixed feeding or formula feeding, and ever versus never breastfeeding. In all scientific studies, the evidence suggests that breastfeeding is protective against breast cancer, and longer duration is more protective. Women who have children and do not breastfeed may have higher risk for ER- breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer than women who breastfeed, and higher risk than women who do not have children. Also, the protective effects of breastfeeding appear to be additive with the risk reduction attained from having children.

However, in the U.S., Black babies have 20% lower rates of ever being breastfed and of being breastfed at six months. They are half as likely to be breastfed exclusively at six months—14.6% of Black babies are exclusively breastfed at 6 months compared to 26.8% of White babies. Black women may face barriers such as lack of social and cultural acceptance in their communities, inadequate support from health care providers, and unsupportive work environments. For instance, hospital facilities in zip codes with higher than average Black residents had lower rates of five out of the ten recommended Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care. The greatest disparities were found in practices supporting early initiation of breastfeeding, limited use of breastfeeding supplements, and rooming in (allowing mother and child to stay in the same room). While barriers to breastfeeding are common for many mothers, Black mothers have unique or disproportionate barriers. For example, 19.5% of Black mothers reported returning to work as a reason to stop breastfeeding, compared to 8.8% of White mothers.

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Intervention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that in 2015, 87% of infants born in California were ever breastfed, 67% are breastfed to 3 months old and 40% make it to 6 months being breastfed. These rates are all above the national average, but still leave room for improvement. In recent years, breastfeeding rates have improved overall in California; however, the improvements are not equally distributed between different populations. There are unique cultural, historical, logistical and economic barriers for different groups of women in California to breastfeed.

Overarching Goal: Remove all legal and cultural barriers to maximizing women’s ability to breastfeed their babies. Read More

 

“In recent years, breastfeeding rates have improved overall in California; however, the improvements are not equally distributed between different populations. There are unique cultural, historical, logistical and economic barriers for different groups of women in California to breastfeed.” –Paths to Prevention: CA’s Breast Cancer Primary Prevention Plan  

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