As August comes to a close, so does National Breastfeeding Awareness Month -- a time not only to celebrate the deep bond and health benefits that breastfeeding brings, but also to address the resilience of families navigating its many challenges.
At Newark's University Hospital, Dr. Harpreet Kaur, a neonatal physician, and Mackieba Reyes, a lactation consultant who also works with midwives and doulas across the state, are helping to lead the charge in supporting breastfeeding families.
Breastfeeding Awareness Month, which was established in 2011 to align with World Breastfeeding Week, gives them a platform to reinforce support systems, share resources, and ensure parents have the education and encouragement they need to make informed feeding choices, Kaur and Reyes said.
They emphasize the many benefits of breastfeeding. For babies, it improves overall health, reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by encouraging frequent waking and movement, and supports stronger intellectual development.
For mothers, breastfeeding can lower the risk of certain cancers, help the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size, reduce postpartum bleeding, burn calories, and decrease the risk of diabetes and hypertension. It may also delay the return of menstruation.
Data reveals the trend in breastfeeding is a steady decline as the baby gets older. Nationally, about 85.7% of babies are ever breastfed, but that number drops to 62.1% at six months and 40.8% at one year, according to CDC data for infants born in 2022. Only 27.9% are exclusively breastfed through six months, falling short of federal health targets.
In New Jersey, breastfeeding rates are slightly below the national average. The state reports that 55.4% of infants are breastfed at six months, and 33.8% at one year.
Statewide data on exclusive breastfeeding by race is limited, but health officials report that White parents are more likely to exclusively breastfeed during birth hospitalization, while Black and Hispanic parents have the lowest rates. Recognizing these trends, New Jersey creared its 2022-2027 Breastfeeding Strategic Plan, which prioritizes equitable support for all families.
Dr. Kaur, who works in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), stresses that breast milk is especially critical for premature infants.
Because premature babies are smaller and have underdeveloped immune systems and digestive tracts, they face a much higher risk of intestinal infections.
"Breast milk provides essential proteins, fats, and antibodies that support both the digestive and immune systems," she said. "It helps babies tolerate feeds better and lowers the risk of infections. It also supports better neurodevelopmental outcomes, including higher IQ scores."
Hospital stays are often shorter because breastfed premature babies experience fewer infections, which reduces both morbidity and mortality rates, she said.
Support for all lactating mothers
Reyes, the lactation consultant shared her personal struggles with breastfeeding.
"I had my first kid at 17, so as a teenager breastfeeding was rough," she said. Then I realized most of the time, moms just need a little guidance. I went through the cracked nipples. I went through low milk production. My third child did not latch. So, I know most of the problems that our moms face and I'm able to relate to what they're going through."
She emphasized that her support extends to all mothers whether they've delivered a full-term baby or experienced a pregnancy loss.
One of the most common challenges she said is milk production.
"We explain that the more often you breastfeed, the more milk your body will produce," she said.
Many new mothers worry when their baby wants to feed every hour. But Reyes said that often the baby is only nursing for 5 to 10 minutes, not long enough for a full feeding.
"We encourage them to let the baby stay on one breast as long as needed," she said, "then switch to the other at the next feeding. By the next day, moms usually see an increase in milk -- and they get really excited."
Support continues for low-income families enrolled in the WIC program (Women, Infants, and Children), a federal assistance initiative that provides nutrition education, healthy food, breastfeeding support, and health care referrals for children up to age five.
Helping mothers after pregnancy loss
Reyes also works with women who have experienced pregnancy loss, helping them navigate the physical and emotional aspects of lactation.
"If a loss happens after 16 weeks, the body will likely begin producing milk," she explained. "I give them a day or two to process emotionally, and then we talk about their options."
Some women choose to suppress lactation, while others decide to donate their milk.
"We now have medications that can help suppress milk if that's what they choose," Reyes said. "Or, if they want to donate, I help connect them to a milk bank."
She outlined the donation process:
"Once the milk bank is contacted, they send a screening form," she said. "The mother takes it to her doctor, who completes it. Then the milk bank ships a Styrofoam box with storage bags. The mom pumps, freezes the milk, packs it in the box, and ships it back."
Reyes emphasized that donor milk banks maintain high safety and quality standards by thoroughly screening donors, pasteurizing the milk, and regularly testing it to remove harmful bacteria while preserving its nutritional and immune-boosting properties.
Flexible breastfeeding options
Recognizing that many low-income mothers return to work soon after childbirth, Reyes stressed how breastfeeding can be adapted to meet different lifestyles.
"Many insurance companies will cover a double electric breast pump, and frozen breast milk can be stored for six to twelve months," she said.
Reyes and her team help new mothers order pumps before leaving the hospital.
"We give them information on how to order their pump, it usually arrives in five to seven days," she said. "We also send them home with a manual pump and connect them with WIC for continued support."
She also points out that breastfeeding technology has come a long way, noting that there are now wearable pumps that fit into a bra and operate hands-free.
"You just pump, pour the milk into a bottle, and store it," she said.
Reyes says her role is about more than providing tools - it's about empowerment and access.
"We know what's available and help moms to select the resources that fit their needs," she said. "We're here to teach and educate."