Breastfeeding Equity Center

The Breastfeeding Equity Center’s mission is to make BMC Health System a breastfeeding-supportive and knowledgeable institution that supports all BMC patients in meeting their infant feeding intentions. 

We are addressing our patient’s needs through innovation, research, advocacy, training and expanding clinical services for lactation. Read more about the important work we are doing, featured in the Boston Globe’s Emancipator section.

Establishing long-needed outpatient clinical breastfeeding services

We founded the first breastfeeding medicine clinic at BMC in December 2021 with two providers and over 200 mother-baby dyads served as of September 2022. We plan to expand providers/sessions and add an e-consult service to meet demand and our collaborating across various departments to support additional lactation resources. 

Increasing lactation education and training

We manage a medical student breastfeeding elective and have OB and FM residents attend clinic sessions. With expanded clinical sessions, we plan to host more learners, particularly community members and staff from under-represented groups similar to our patient population.

Conducting equity-focused research & quality monitoring

We monitor breastfeeding rates by race and other demographic and clinical characteristics in order to direct interventions where they are needed most. The Center will bring investigators together to foster collaboration on breastfeeding research that impacts our patients, our community and beyond.