Marin County Breastfeeding Rates
August is Breastfeeding Month in Marin County!
Read the full Board of Supervisors Resolution
About the Marin Breastfeeding Coalition
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continuation of breastfeeding with appropriate supplementation of food for the first year and beyond as long as mutually desired by mother and child.
Breastfeeding is linked to health benefits for both infants and mothers. Although breastfeeding initiation rates are high in the Marin, most women do not breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months. Families can face many challenges when it comes to breastfeeding. Many families do not breastfeed for as long as they intend to and breastfeeding disparities by race and ethnicity persist. The steady decline in breastfeeding from month-to-month indicates that breastfeeding families may need stronger systems of support to reach their breastfeeding goals.
Strategies like peer support, education, longer maternity leaves, and breastfeeding support in the hospital, workplace, and community may help more women breastfeed exclusively.
The Marin Breastfeeding Coalition recognizes breastfeeding as the ideal nutrition for infants. Through breastfeeding promotion, advocacy, education, and support, the Marin Breastfeeding Coalition is working to achieve the goals set by Healthy People 2030 and American Academy of Pediatrics.
Purpose
To promote breastfeeding in Marin County, support activities that make it the norm, decrease barriers, and increase acceptance within families, the community and in the workplace.
Qualifications
Everyone is welcome! Our current members include lactation consultants, representatives of WIC, MarinHealth Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, Marin Community Clinic, Marin County HHS, community activists, Head Start, Family Service Agency, First 5 Marin, local prenatal educators, and representatives from related county agencies.
