Michigan Breastfeeding Network

Michigan Breastfeeding Network collaborates with organizations and individuals to bring about actionable, system-level changes that are centered on the diverse experiences of Michigan families with young children. We advocate, educate, and community-build alongside families and organizations for the advancement of an equitable, just, and breastfeeding-supportive culture.

Our 2023 advocacy efforts involved successfully educating the legislature and governor's team about the importance of protecting public milk expression in the law establishment of an executive order to expand support for incarcerated mothers. We also continued two, volunteer-driven working groups to address issues in the covid-19 response and barriers to breastfeeding-supportive mental health services. Our educational efforts included providing more than 12,000 free continuing education credits to Breastfeeding supporters seeking to transform the field of lactation by shifting the paradigm of expertise and centering the lived experiences of black and indigenous families. Our community building efforts remain grounded in our commitment to building the field of community-based, equity centered Breastfeeding support services provided by actively anti-racist Breastfeeding supporters who reflect and represent the communities they serve. In 2023, we served alongside 17 organizations in communities across Michigan.