MumUs

In Spain, 98% of new mothers intend to breastfeed, but only 68% actually do, and only 25% are still breastfeeding at 6 months.

There are multiple factors that influence local breastfeeding rates:

• Lack of knowledge or information.
• The healthcare system isn’t providing needed information and support around breastfeeding.
• Cultural beliefs and questioning women’s decisions.
• Lack of support for breastfeeding in public policies and inadequate parental policies.
• Working conditions that don’t not facilitate work-life balance and shared responsibility.
• Social pressure that imposes breastfeeding as the only legitimate option for the baby during this stage and delegitimizes alternative feeding options for the baby when families cannot, or do not want decide not to breastfeed.

The MumUs projects outlines a comprehensive approach to support breastfeeding and infant nutrition through training, research, community building, policy advocacy, and creating supportive environments.

• Training for Health Professionals: MumUs provides comprehensive training programs for health professionals to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to support mothers in their breastfeeding journeys, regardless of whether they choose breast-milk, hybrid, or alternative infant nutrition.
• Support for Mothers and Their Environment: The project offers practical help to mothers, ensuring their breastfeeding experience is positive and fulfilling. It also extends this support to their immediate environment, including family members, to create a supportive network.
• Training for Companies: MumUs conducts training sessions for companies to ensure that workplaces are conducive to breastfeeding. This includes creating parental policies and environments, like equipped lactation rooms and occupational lactation counselors, that support mothers in continuing to breastfeed after returning to work.
• Community Building and Awareness: The project also aims to build a supportive community that empowers families with information, raising awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding and the importance of a nutritious diet, considering the diverse realities of families.
• Policy Advocacy: MumUs promotes and supports labor policies that enable women and families to choose and maintain breastfeeding. This includes advocating for public policies that support breastfeeding and parental leave.
• Research and Knowledge Generation: The project generates knowledge through research to address the main challenges that hinder breastfeeding. This involves collaborating with scientific entities and medical societies to produce relevant studies and disseminate findings through accessible formats.
• Observatory of Breastfeeding: Finally, MumUs establishes an observatory to fill information gaps at the national and regional levels. This observatory works in collaboration with universities, research centers, and experts to produce studies that reflect local needs and global trends. The findings are shared through reports, academic publications, and practical guides.