Highlighting Significant Progress in Lactation Support and Resources
TRENTON – In honor of National Breastfeeding Month, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) continues its strong commitment to enhancing lactation support and education across the state. National Breastfeeding Month helps create a supportive environment for babies and families. This year’s theme: Nourish, Sustain, Thrive.
Governor Phil Murphy has proclaimed August 2024 as Breastfeeding Month in New Jersey, recognizing and celebrating the benefits of breastfeeding as well as the need for greater access to breastfeeding support and evidence-based information and education.
"Many new parents want to breastfeed or give their infants human milk, but face significant barriers to lactation,” said New Jersey Health Commissioner Kaitlan Baston, M.D. “By fostering support, education, and access to breastfeeding resources, we are promoting breastfeeding as a vital part of health and well-being for our children, parents, and families.”
“As we celebrate Breastfeeding Month here in New Jersey, we recognize the benefits breastfeeding can have in building a foundation for lifelong health and wellness for moms and babies,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “While breastfeeding may not always be possible or the choice for every new mother, our administration is dedicated to working towards a future where all families are able to freely access critical breastfeeding supports and resources.”
In January 2021, First Lady Murphy unveiled the Nurture NJ Maternal and Infant Health Strategic Plan – a blueprint to reduce New Jersey’s maternal mortality rate by 50 percent over five years and eliminate racial disparities in birth outcomes. The plan included recommendations to advance breastfeeding policies in the state, which resulted in the launch of the Statewide Breastfeeding Strategic Plan in September 2022.
Since 2021, exclusive breastfeeding rates at hospital discharge have increased slightly, while rates of combined feeding (breastfeeding and formula) have increased since 2016. Preliminary data shows a rise in exclusive breastfeeding at discharge from 32 percent in 2021 to 33 percent in 2022. A similar trend is observed for combination feeding (breastfeeding and formula) at discharge, 43 percent to 51 percent, respectively. A downward trend is observed for formula feeding at discharge from 2020 to 2022.
Breastfeeding Trends at Hospital Discharge: 2022 Data Overview
| Birth Year | Exclusive Breastfeeding | Combination of Breastfeeding and Formula |
| 2022 |
32.9% |
51.3% |
| 2021 |
31.5% |
43.2% |
| 2020 |
32.5% |
41.1% |
“Community doula trainings offer breastfeeding modules to help support new mothers as well as provide lactation resources,” said Nancy Scotto-Rosato, NJDOH Assistant Commissioner for Family Health Services. “By increasing the breastfeeding workforce, improving access to breastfeeding support through Connecting NJ, and creating a database of providers through ZipMilk.org, we continue to build support for increasing breastfeeding statewide.”
NJDOH highlights notable achievements in its Breastfeeding Strategic Plan. Key accomplishments include:
- $331,000 in state funding dedicated to advancing the goals and objectives of the NJ Breastfeeding Strategic Plan;
- The appointment of a Statewide Breastfeeding Coordinator and an associate to help drive the implementation of the strategic plan;
- Establishing the New Jersey Breastfeeding Strategic Plan Steering Committee to solicit input and reporting on the project’s progress, as well as developing a New Jersey Breastfeeding Bill of Rights. Steering Committee members include representatives from the Maternal Child Health Consortia, the NJ WIC program, and NJ SNAP-Ed;
- The creation of a comprehensive database of New Jersey pregnancy and parenting resources that provide lactation education and support; and
- Expanding lactation resources by increasing the number of support providers listed in the ZipMilk.org database.
New Jersey WIC agencies are also continuing to provide breastfeeding promotion and support.
- The New Jersey WIC education and resource site, njwiconline.org, offers new lessons on wellness tips for women, with key topics such as breastfeeding.
- New Jersey’s digital resources include a revised Infant Feeding Guide that integrates the latest recommendations on infant feeding from birth through 12 months, with a focus on breastfeeding.
- New funding will expand the WIC breastfeeding workforce. Eight individuals, including peer counselors working to support new mothers, have received grants to complete coursework and/or take the International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant exam.
The progress made in increasing access to breastfeeding resources reflects New Jersey’s efforts to support families and promote infant health across the state.
NJDOH remains committed to improving New Jersey’s breastfeeding support and education, ensuring that every mother has access to the resources needed to make informed feeding choices.
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