Topic: Infant Health

Missed Opportunities to Support Breastfeeding

We are missing many opportunities to support breastfeeding in the United States. In the healthcare system, broken communication, competing priorities, and low confidence in support skills create roadblocks for lactation support throughout the breastfeeding journey. As a consequence of these missed opportunities, 60% of mothers stop breastfeeding before they planned, and only a quarter of babies are exclusively breastfed at six months old despite high breastfeeding initiation rates. Our system is failing breastfeeding families. Supporting families every step of the way requires frequent & consistent education, counseling, problem solving, and communication among all providers.

2021 Breastfeeding Inspiration Guide

August 1st marks the beginning of National Breastfeeding Month and World Breastfeeding Week, celebrating the benefits of breastfeeding for families in the United States and around the world. All month long, 1,000 Days and its fellow advocates will be highlighting breastfeeding in different communities and how we can build a landscape of breastfeeding support.

Nutrition for Growth Year of Action Advocacy Toolkit

Good nutrition is a human right and is fundamental to health and well-being. To support the nutrition advocacy community to continue building momentum during this 2021 Nutrition Year of Action, please visit the Nutrition Year of Action Advocacy toolkit bringing together a bevy of priority messages, resources, and social graphics to amplify key asks from ICAN and SUN CSN colleagues. The toolkit aims to inspire collective action on global nutrition towards the Tokyo Summit and other key commitment-making moments this year, including the Pre-Summit of the UN Food Systems Summit in July and the Summit in September.

Rashna’s Journey: Power 4 nutrition interventions in the 1,000-day window

Imagine a world where the darkness of malnutrition is extinguished and strong, healthy children can continue towards a bright, waiting future. With an investment in nutrition, we can help make that happen.

There are four essential actions (breastfeeding support, prenatal vitamins, specialized foods for wasting treatment, Vitamin A supplementation) we can take now to prevent children from dying of severe malnutrition. These interventions span the course of the critical 1,000-day period between a woman’s pregnancy and a child’s second birthday, when there is a unique window of opportunity to build healthier and more prosperous futures for mothers and their babies.

COVID-19 and Malnutrition Video

The coronavirus pandemic has ravaged the globe and disrupted food supplies, restricted—and in many cases, shut down–access to nutritious meals and health services for millions of children and pregnant or breastfeeding women. When we invest in nutrition, we CAN build resiliency, reduce disparities, and create conditions to ensure today’s children are nourished in ways that secures their health today, tomorrow and into the future.

Available in other in Spanish and French.

Extending Postpartum Medicaid/CHIP Coverage

Nearly half of all births in the United States are financed by Medicaid, which covers women for 60 days postpartum; however, 50% or more of pregnancy-related deaths occur after 60 days, and women of color are at the greatest risk. To help ensure all women in the U.S. have a healthy first 1,000 days, women with a Medicaid-covered birth should receive postpartum coverage for 12 months.

Birth & Lactation Support for a Healthy First 1,000 Days

Women need adequate support to have a healthy first 1,000 days. This brief explains the critical roles that birth doulas and lactation consultants play in improving outcomes and reducing racial and ethnic disparities during birth and the postpartum period.

The Lancet Series on Maternal and Child Undernutrition Progress

In 2021, The Lancet published the latest Series on Maternal and Child Undernutrition, including three new papers that build upon findings from the previous 2008 and 2013 Series, which established an evidence-based global agenda for tackling undernutrition over the past decade. The newest series highlights how the evidence base for nutrition, health, food systems, social protection, and water, sanitation and hygiene interventions have evolved since the 2013 Series and identifies the priority actions needed to regain and accelerate progress within the next decade.

The Looming Threat of Malnutrition in the COVID-19 Pandemic (Recording)

A recording of the virtual event The Looming Threat of Malnutrition in the COVID-19 Pandemic hosted by 1,000 Days, Bread for the World and InterAction.

Speakers included:
(Moderator) Jenny Marron, Director for Public Policy and Government Relations, InterAction
Congressman Jim McGovern
Skye Fitzgerald, Emmy and Oscar nominated documentary filmmaker
Karin Lapping, Nutrition Technical Director at FHI Solutions
Asma Lateef, Director at Bread for the World Institute
Shawn K Baker, Chief Nutritionist at USAID

The Power 4 Nutrition Interventions: Wasting Treatment

There are four essential actions we can take now to prevent children from dying of severe malnutrition: Supply all pregnant women with prenatal vitamins, support breastfeeding mothers, continue large-scale vitamin A supplementation, and expand coverage of specialized foods for treatment. This brief tells a personal story of how a US Government-funded Power 4 nutrition intervention made a difference in the lives of mothers and their babies.

Find an unbranded version here.