Your story can help inspire a movement! The USBC works with our members and partners to educate policymakers and push for breastfeeding-friendly policy and practice changes for all families. Personal stories and experiences from constituents help decision-makers understand what is at stake and why action is needed.
We've included a few prompts as thought starters below, or simply enter your story in the Freeform Story Share category. Please enter your name and email, add as many or as few stories as you'd like, then press the submit button on this page.
Please Note: Stories will be used for a variety of purposes, including in conversations with members of Congress, policymakers, and the media, and in future action campaigns, blogs, articles, etc.
Work and School:
- What paid leave options are available to your family? How did that impact your infant feeding decisions?
- How are schools and employers in your community supporting or creating barriers for new parents on their infant feeding journeys?
- If you're an employer, what do you need to better support your lactating workers?
Donor Milk:
- Were you aware that pasteurized donor human milk was an option for infant feeding?
- What supports or challenges did your family experience when seeking donor milk or donating your milk to a milk bank?
- What information does your community need about pasteurized donor human milk?
Family/Community Support:
- Describe the infant feeding norms within your community and in your family.
- What kind of lactation support is available in your community?
- What kinds of resource gaps are your clients or loved ones facing?
Childcare:
- How supportive are the childcare providers in your community of human milk feeding?
- What do childcare providers need to better support human milk feeding?
Accessing Breast Pumps and Supplies:
- Were you able to access breastfeeding supplies through your insurance? What was your experience?
- What barriers, if any, have you or your community experienced when trying to access lactation supplies? (e.g., breast pump, replacement pump parts, milk storage supplies, etc.)
- How did you determine what type of breast pump and breastfeeding supplies were right for you? (e.g. internet research, provider suggestions, peer advice, advertisements)
- What would help make lactation supplies more accessible to those who need them?
Emergencies and Infant Separation:
- How have you seen emergencies or disasters (including the COVID-19 pandemic) impact infant feeding?
- What information or materials would benefit your community with respect to infant and young child feeding during emergencies?
- How was your infant feeding experience impacted by incarceration, custody-related issues, or family separation?
Birth and Postpartum Care:
- What kind of lactation support was offered at your hospital or birthing location?
- When did you begin breast or chestfeeding (including pumping) for your baby after birth? What, if anything, made it difficult?
- Are healthcare providers in your community supportive and well-informed about human milk feeding?
Safe Sleep:
- What information did your family receive about safe infant sleep? What else would have been helpful?
- What was helpful or challenging for you when trying to meet breastfeeding and safe sleep recommendations?
- What information do childcare workers or other caregivers need about safe sleep environments?
Freeform Story Share:
- Do you have a different topic that you'd like to talk about? Share what's important to YOU?
