The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, an independent non-profit organization whose mission is to create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States has designated the month of August as National Breastfeeding Month. In its 13th year, the celebration is centered on education and raising awareness of lactation and the outcomes derived from breastfeeding. There are several University of Pittsburgh faculty conducting research into the outcomes of breastfeeding. Two such researchers are Dr. Jennifer Zarit, assistant professor of pediatrics and director for the lactation elective in the School of Medicine, and Dr. Jill Demirci, associate professor and principal investigator in the School of Nursing Department of Health Promotion and Development.
As director of the lactation elective offered to medical students and residents in the School of Medicine, Dr. Zarit spends two to four weeks with her students as they gain knowledge on the physiology of breastfeeding and learn skills to problem solve when there are breastfeeding challenges. Dr. Zarit reports that most of these students go on to pursue training in pediatrics, obstetrics-gynecology, or family medicine. Her research contends that providing breastmilk has many health benefits for both those that breastfeed and their loved ones. For preterm babies, breastmilk can be lifesaving. “Overall, breastmilk can decrease the risk for ear infections, pneumonia, diarrhea, SIDS, asthma, diabetes, obesity, and inflammatory bowel disease, just to name a few. The health impacts can also be significant. These include decreased rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, in addition to breast and ovarian cancers.”
At the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Dr. Jill Demirci serves as a principal investigator of studies related to diverse aspects of human lactation. She is also the Co-Director of the Maternal/Perinatal and Reproductive Health Research Hub and leads an ongoing lactation education initiative for students. She describes breastfeeding as being the biologically normative way to feed and nurture infants and young children, with dose-dependent health benefits for both mothers/birthing parents and their children. Dr. Demirci states that breastfeeding is environmentally sustainable and economically advantageous through reduced healthcare spending and less sick time off from work due to childhood illness.
Drs. Zarit and Demirci agree that within the United States, breastfeeding is not well-supported through policy or infrastructure. Dr. Zarit says that unfortunately, many women do not meet their breastfeeding goals because of lack of good supports. It is suggested by both Zarit and Demirci that services such as lactation support in and out of the newborn hospitalization, paid parental leave to help establish breastfeeding, and access to public spaces that accommodate the needs of those who breastfeed, and their babies can be supportive. This can proportionately impact historically marginalized groups—including Black birthing people and low-income families. Dr. Demirci acknowledges that “grassroots community-level efforts and federal and state-level policy changes are needed to better support breastfeeding families.”
- Karla Perelstine, M.Ed.
Communications Specialist
Office of Health Sciences Diversity, Equity and Inclusion