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Program Description:
The Delta Breastfeeding Coalition (DBC) is an advocacy and support program for current and soon to be mothers and their families. By raising awareness around breastfeeding’s health and developmental benefits for mothers and babies, the coalition seeks to remove cultural and logistical barriers to breastfeeding for mothers in the Mississippi Delta. Considered the gold standard in infant feeding, breastfeeding’s proven prevention strategy builds a foundation for life-long health and wellness. In Mississippi, breastfeeding rates at birth and six months after birth fall far below the national average; in the Delta, the prevalence of breastfeeding early in a baby’s life is even lower. The Delta Breastfeeding Coalition’s goal is to increase both of those rates, starting with Sunflower County.
Specifically, the breastfeeding coalition conducts targeted outreach to improve community attitudes toward breastfeeding; advocates for local workplace and child center policies conducive to breastfeeding; and provides tools and support to create designated nursing/pumping rooms in workplaces, child care centers, and other public spaces. The coalition hosts weekly Baby Café meetings for mothers and families to learn about the benefits of breastfeeding, receive support, and share stories and experiences. DBC also distributes toolkits to educate local businesses on how to become breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, and rewards companies that do so.