Overview
This episode focuses on breastfeeding challenges in the real world. These are issues that can be the hardest to overcome. These complex issues are seldom discussed and account for many reasons why women do not breastfeed or stop breastfeeding early. This episode features documentary filmmaker Elizabeth Bayne. Elizabeth has spent the last few years in the trenches with expecting and new mothers learning about their struggles with breastfeeding in the real world. Although these issues can impact all mothers, minority communities tend to be the most heavily affected. Attitudes and biases towards new mothers in the minority community influence breastfeeding rates. Family legacy and African American history are affecting attitudes towards breastfeeding today. In addition, economic barriers of lower-income mothers can present additional challenges to breastfeeding. This episode prepares you for some of the real-world social, economic, and cultural challenges you may encounter with breastfeeding.
Elizabeth Bayne is an award-winning producer, director, and public health communicator whose work has garnered 2 CASE Awards, a Gold Davey Award, 7 Telly Awards, and a Best Short Competition Award. Earning her Masters of Public Health from the Yale School of Public Health and Masters of Fine Arts in film from the Art Center College of Design, Elizabeth is committed to working at the intersection of social impact and film. She is currently producing Chocolate Milk, her first feature documentary.
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Included in this Episode
- Watch a preview of Chocolate Milk the documentary
- Breastfeeding Basics
- Real world reasons women do not breastfeed or stop breastfeeding
- Challenges breastfeeding mothers face
- How you prepare before birth can impact breastfeeding
- Where you give birth has influence on whether you breastfeed and the duration
- Whether you have a vaginal birth or a cesarean section can affect your breastfeeding relationship
- Bias towards new mothers in the minority community
- Family legacy and African American history
- Economic barriers of lower income mothers
- WIC (Women Infants, and Children) program
- Soulfood for Your Baby
- ROSE (Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere)
- Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association
- La Leche League
- National Medical Association
- Epic breastfeeding advice from Elizabeth
- Chocolate Milk website
- Make a contribution to support the film
- Connect with Elizabeth