Health and Fitness : Feeding the Future: Essential Resources in Iowa for Breastfeeding

Access to nutritious food and healthy eating habits are essential components of a healthy life. In fact, Healthy Eating and Active Living was identified as a key priority in the 2021-2022 State Health Assessment and remains a central focus in the 2023-2028 State Health Improvement Plan. Breastfeeding is a great way to support the growth and development of the youngest Iowans and set the foundation for healthy eating throughout their lives. This month, we explore the Iowa Breastfeeding Strategic Plan and the collaborative efforts taking place to support breastfeeding across the state.

Healthy Iowans uses several measures to assess breastfeeding in Iowa: initiation at the hospital, the number of months of breastfeeding, and how many infants are breastfeeding exclusively for at least six months. The 2025 Early Childhood Nutrition Report includes these measures and more data on nutrition from birth to age 5. The report shows about 83% of Iowa infants born in 2021 were breastfed, a rate that remains strong and steady. Encouragingly, exclusive breastfeeding through 6 months increased to 29%, up from 27% in 2019. While these gains reflect important progress, they still fall short of the Healthy People 2030 target of 42.4% of infants exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months, highlighting the ongoing need for strong sustainable support systems for Iowa families.

Improving breastfeeding rates and outcomes requires strong partnerships and coordinated efforts across healthcare, public health, early care and education, and community systems. The theme of 'Forward Together' is at the heart of Iowa's Breastfeeding Strategic Plan, which began implementation in 2023. The strategic plan includes four statewide goals that bring together a wide variety of partners to build a supportive, sustainable environment where breastfeeding is the norm and every mother has what she needs to succeed. Here are a few highlights from the past year:

• Community Partnership Collaborative Grants: Iowa Health and Human Services awarded $65,000 in grants to 9 Women, Infants and Children (WIC) agencies to support breastfeeding projects. Many projects included community partnerships, particularly Child Care Nurse Consultants, which strengthened connections between WIC and Early Care and Education partners.
• Healthcare Provider Resources: Healthcare professionals play a key role in breastfeeding success. From prenatal counseling to postpartum care, the guidance and encouragement that medical providers offer can have a lasting impact on a mother's feeding journey. To support continued learning, Iowa HHS compiled a list of trusted breastfeeding education opportunities and resources designed specifically for medical providers.
• Breastfeeding Classes and Support Group Toolkit: Developed by Strategic Plan workgroup members, this toolkit is designed for any organization looking to start or strengthen a breastfeeding class or support group. It offers practical tips, planning, considerations, and best practices to help create meaningful spaces where mothers can connect, learn, and feel supported.
• Iowa Lactation Education (ILE): The ILE training is a valuable resource for increasing breastfeeding knowledge in communities. Created by the Iowa Breastfeeding Coalition, this training is geared toward any professional working with breastfeeding families. Organizations are encouraged to host trainings locally to build capacity and strengthen continuity of care. A statewide virtual ILE training will be hosted on August 7, 2025, and is open to anyone who is interested. To learn more and register, visit the Iowa Breastfeeding Coalition website.
• Pasteurized Human Donor Milk Expansion: In 2025, the Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa reached an exciting milestone with the opening of its 50th milk depot, along with two new dispensaries and an expansion of their lab facilities. These accomplishments reflect the growing demand for donor milk and the incredible efforts to ensure that more infants in Iowa have access to this important resource. Check out the list of depots and dispensaries on the Iowa Breastfeeding Database.

Iowa Breastfeeding Database

Another significant accomplishment of the Breastfeeding Strategic Plan has been the transition of the Iowa Breastfeeding Resource Database to a new platform. This resource can help connect families with trusted, local resources, such as International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), birthing hospitals, public health programs and donor milk dispensaries and depots. Listed organizations and resources are vetted by the State Breastfeeding Team to ensure they operate in Iowa, provide direct lactation support and have at least one credentialed lactation professional on staff, guiding families toward their breastfeeding goals.

The Iowa Breastfeeding Resource serves as an invaluable tool for community partners and providers. It not only assists families seeking lactation assistance and support, but also fosters continuity of care by helping organizations identify other lactation professionals in their region.

As we approach August, it's the time to honor the hard work of mothers who breastfeed and to rally around the support they need through the World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month! These celebrations also serve as a call to action by raising awareness, encouraging organizations to get involved, and building systems that make breastfeeding resources more accessible for every mom.

World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated August 1-7, is recognized around the world. This year's theme, "Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create sustainable support systems" encourages people to think more broadly about what sustainability means when it comes to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding itself is a natural sustainable infant feeding practice that requires no additional water resources, requires no packaging and produces less waste all while also offering lasting health and financial benefits to moms, babies and families.

National Breastfeeding Month continues through August with the theme "Forward Together". It's a reminder that successful breastfeeding takes more than one person; it takes a village. When health systems, workplaces and communities come together to reduce barriers and offer support, more mothers can reach their breastfeeding goals, and more babies benefit from the lifelong advantages of breastmilk.

• Spread the word about the Iowa Breastfeeding Resource Database by requesting promotional materials.
• If your organization provides direct lactation support and meets the listing criteria, you can fill out this interest form to be included in the database.
• Learn more about breastfeeding via the resource links below and offer support through emotional encouragement, workplace accommodations, and connecting those in need with access to care and education.

• Iowa Breastfeeding Strategic Plan
• Breastfeeding Training and Resources for Medical Providers
• Breastfeeding Classes and Support Group Toolkit
• Iowa Breastfeeding Coalition
• Iowa Lactation Education Virtual Training (August 7)
• Mother's Milk Bank of Iowa
• Iowa Breastfeeding Resource Database
• 2025 Childhood Nutrition Report

For more information, reach out to Lexie Stoneking, Health Promotion and Prevention Breastfeeding Coordinator, at lexie.stoneking@hhs.iowa.gov.