Nutrition and Physical Activity: Breastfeeding Initiatives
Why breastfeeding matters
Human milk is the best nutrition for infants. It supports healthy growth, helps build the immune system, and promotes brain and body development. Breastfeeding also benefits the lactating parent and is linked to a lower risk of chronic health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
We recognize that people may use different terms, such as breastfeeding, chestfeeding, or bodyfeeding, and may feed their baby in different ways, including direct feeding, pumping, or using a supplemental nursing system. While some resources say breastfeeding and mothers, they are intended to be inclusive of all families and caregivers.
Breastfeeding is not only a personal choice. It is also shaped by the support families receive where they live, work, learn, and receive care. When families have access to clear information, skilled support and welcoming spaces, they are better able to meet their infant feeding goals.
Support across health care settings, workplaces, early care and education programs, and communities makes a difference. Strengthening policies, systems, and environments that support lactation helps families and infants to be healthy now and in the future.
Resources for professionals and community partners
Professionals and partners play an important role supporting breastfeeding. Hospitals, health systems, child care providers, and employers can create practices and spaces that make it easier for families to meet their infant feeding goals. These resources offer guidance to support that work.
Hospitals and health systems help shape early feeding experiences for families. Care during pregnancy, birth, and the early days after delivery sets the stage for ongoing lactation support. These resources include reports that review policies and practices and identify areas for improvement.
- 2025 Wisconsin Breastfeeding Landscape, P-03717 (PDF) Hospitals play a vital role in promoting human milk feeding by addressing disparities and strengthening ongoing support for families.
- Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC™) Survey The mPINC Survey assesses six key domains central to improving breastfeeding outcomes: immediate postpartum care, rooming in, feeding education, feeding practices, discharge support, and institutional management.
Child care providers play an important role in supporting breastfeeding families when parents return to work or school. Early care and education (ECE) programs become key partners in helping babies continue receiving human milk. Implementing best practices helps create a supportive, family- centered environment that benefits both infants and parents.
- Ten Steps for Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Centers, P-00022 (PDF)—Resource kit available in English or Spanish.
- Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Online Training in English and Spanish. Registry credit available.
- CDC's (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Early Childhood Nutrition Report 2025 (PDF)—Contains information on nutrition-related behaviors, practices, and policies that can impact the health and development of children 5 years and younger, including national and state data on breastfeeding.
Workplaces play an important role in supporting breastfeeding families when employees return to work. Federal law requires employers to provide time and space for employees to express milk. Beyond these requirements, employers can offer additional supports to help employees prepare for and return from parental leave.
The Wisconsin Breastfeeding Coalition: Worksites has helpful resources and links to information for both employers and local agencies or coalitions interested in assisting worksites and employees in their community.
Support for families and caregivers
When families feel supported in their feeding choices, breastfeeding is easier to continue. The Division of Public Health (DPH) supports lactation and human milk feeding through a variety of programs. To learn more, visit the Wisconsin Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program’s Breastfeeding and Lactation Support page and our Maternal and Child Health Program’s Breastfeeding page. These resources offer practical information that make it easier for families reach their infant feeding goals.
Find more general information on the Breastfeeding Resources page
Note on inclusive language
We recognize that not all people use the term “breastfeeding.” Chestfeeding and bodyfeeding are other ways to describe the feeding of human milk to a child, whether directly from an individual or from those who exclusively pump their milk or use a supplemental nursing system. While our resources may occasionally use the term “breastfeeding” and “mothers,” we intend for this information to be inclusive of all families.