Hello, 

I am a Health Communication PhD Candidate and I am looking to identify breastfeeding friendly municipalities. 

***Do you know of any cities that go above and beyond? If so, which ones and why?***

Here are some criteria we have been discussing:

Not a First Food Desert
 - access to culturally competent lactation care providers, 
 - access to support groups, 
 - at least 41% of employers have breastfeeding support policies, 
 - at least 31% of child care facilities, lactation rooms are available at public locations (including museums, airports, zoos, etc)
 - Baby-Friendly certified hospital within 34 minute commute, 
 - at least 61% of all pediatricians offer a lactation care referral, 
 - more than 50% of community members say they are comfortable seeing mothers breastfeed in public)

Museums, Zoos, and Libraries host breastfeeding friendly exhibits/displays

Sporting facilities/stadiums have lactation spaces and leverage their promotional power to endorse breastfeeding advocacy programs

Jails/detention centers and courts have lactation policies in place that allow female offenders to use an electric pump while separated from their child, have skin-to-skin breastfeeding sessions during visitation, and  consider lactation status during sentencing and whenever possible to couple the mother/baby dyad together. 

Murals and city promotional materials depict breastfeeding as a normal activity

Local media outlets run at least 3 stories per year about breastfeeding and coverage is informed, commentary is free of anti-breastfeeding or pro milk substitute jokes and punchlines, and representations of breastfeeding are not blurred out, hidden or avoided. 

Local businesses have pro-breastfeeding employee leave policies (ie sick leave, paid family leave, etc)

***Any other things you have seen or have thought about that help to make a city feel especially breastfeeding friendly?***

Thanks, 

Lissa Knudsen, MPH, PhD Candidate
University of New Mexico
505-218-5115

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