A wonderful study was just published in BMC Health today. This is incredibly important for doulas and breastfeeding counselors.
Menon, M., Huber, R., West, D.D. et al. Community-based approaches to infant safe sleep and breastfeeding promotion: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health 23, 437 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15227-4
The article “Community-based approaches to infant safe sleep and breastfeeding promotion: a qualitative study” is a really interesting study that explores how communities can help new parents keep their babies safe while they sleep and encourage them to breastfeed.
The authors talked to 22 people from different backgrounds who are involved in promoting infant safe sleep and breastfeeding in the United States. They found that community-based approaches were really effective in promoting safe sleep and breastfeeding.
Community Based Approach
Community-based approaches mean that people in the community come together to help each other out. For example, they might have meetings or workshops where they talk about how to keep babies safe when they sleep or how to breastfeed.
The authors found that building trust and relationships with families is really important, because then parents are more likely to listen to what they have to say. If they feel like they’re being judged or criticized, they might be less likely to participate in community programs.
They also found that it’s important to tailor interventions to meet the needs of different communities. Different groups of people might have different beliefs or practices around baby care, so it’s important to take this into account when designing programs.
Engaging Stakeholders
Engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, like healthcare providers, community leaders, and parents themselves, is also really important. Everyone has a role to play in promoting safe sleep and breastfeeding, and by working together, we can make a real difference.
The authors identified several key themes that emerged from their interviews, including the importance of addressing cultural beliefs and practices, leveraging existing resources and partnerships, and using innovative approaches to reach new parents.
Overall
Overall, the study shows that community-based approaches are a great way to promote infant safe sleep and breastfeeding. By working together and providing support, we can help new parents keep their babies safe and healthy, and build stronger, more connected communities in the process.
Author: Aliza Juliette Bancoff
Aliza Juliette Bancoff is a well-known doula and doula trainer who has been providing doula services to families for over a decade. She is the founder of Main Line Doulas, a doula group providing doula support in the great Philadelphia area for the last decade, the International Doula Institute, which provides online doula training and lactation training and certification programs and the International Breastfeeding Institute which provides lactation training and certification. She is the co-founder of United Birth, a company devoted to increasing access to doulas across the country to make the perinatal time safer both physically and emotionally. “Every birthing person deserves access to quality doula support. And we are working to make that a reality across the country. The work we are doing to get doulas to every birthing person will decrease the black infant and maternal mortality rate significantly by 2030.” Says Bancoff. Aliza is known for her compassionate and empowering approach to doula work, and she has been featured in numerous media outlets, including United Nations Maternal Health Report, Parent Magazine, CafeMom, theBump and many more. Aliza's journey into doula work began when she gave birth to her first child and felt a strong calling...