![]() |
Breastfeeding Petition to President Obama
Sign on below to ask President Barack Obama to make breastfeeding a high priority in his administration. This Web tool will allow USBC to compile signatures from supporters all across the United States to submit to the new administration.
Dear President Obama:
There is virtually universal agreement among health care experts that, with rare exceptions, breastfeeding is the optimal method of feeding all infants, sick as well as healthy, preterm as well as full term. In addition to the myriad health benefits provided to mother and infant, breastfeeding provides significant economic and environmental benefits for families, employers, and society by reducing health care expenses, eliminating the need to purchase expensive formula, and reducing absenteeism from work to care for sick infants. Excess health care costs totaling more than $4 billion must be paid by the U.S. health care system each year to treat otitis media, gastroenteritis, and necrotizing enterocolitis--childhood diseases and conditions preventable or reduced by breastfeeding. When prevention of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic conditions is factored in, the potential economic benefits of breastfeeding are significantly greater.
Given all of these benefits, the United States Breastfeeding Committee joins the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in recommending that infants be exclusively breastfed for six months, and continue to breastfeed for the first year of life and as long afterward as mutually desired by the mother and infant. Yet only a handful of states are currently meeting the federal government’s own Healthy People 2010 breastfeeding targets. Additionally, significant disparities in breastfeeding continue to exist, with non-Hispanic black and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups experiencing lower breastfeeding rates.
Obviously, more needs to be done to ensure the achievement of our national breastfeeding goals and to create an environment where women and their families can be successful in achieving their personal breastfeeding goals. You have the power to take immediate and concrete action to improve the Nation’s health by protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding. We urge you to use your position of leadership and power to set the tone in the federal government to place a high priority on breastfeeding as an essential public health issue.
0-25 of 13185 signatures
| Number | Date | Name | Location | Add a personal comment to your signature (optional). |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13185 | February 09, 2010 | Ashlie Willis | Brookline, MA | |
| 13184 | February 08, 2010 | Corrie Osgood | Howell, MI | |
| 13183 | February 07, 2010 | Jennifer Keegan | Westborough, MA | PLEASE! |
| 13182 | February 06, 2010 | Amanda Daey | El Cajon, CA | |
| 13181 | February 06, 2010 | lori labonte | fort wainwright, AK | |
| 13180 | February 05, 2010 | Evaliz Caraballo | Juncos, PR | Por favor, aprueben la petición. Con la ayuda del presidente podemos lograr mucho para las madres lactantes. Necesitamos su apoyo. Gracias! |
| 13179 | February 04, 2010 | Amy Warren | Woburn, MA | Please also prioritize 1. Banked milk for adopted babies and 2. Insurance reimbursement for lactation consultants. |
| 13178 | February 04, 2010 | Rebeca Four | West New York, NJ | Breastfeeding PROTECTION (emphatic not shouting) and support are the key to any significant health care reform. The current valiant aim of the administration is really a care access reform not a health care reform, which would be based on prevention. Breastfeeding is the key to prevention. The African American community, which is perhaps the most vulnerable (highest infant mortality and morbidity rates, daibetes, heart disease, etc), is the least protected and supported when it comes to the most significant health measure: breastfeeding.
PLEASE stand up for humanity and PROTECT breastfeeding. Look to the WHO for evidence based accurate information on breastfeeding and health realted causations and adequate measures of protection and support. STOP the formula companies. They are absolutely responsible for the rampant diseases plaguing our communities. PROTECT, PROMOTE AND SUPPORT HUMANITY by advocating for and protecting the inalienable rights of every baby to breastfeed. |
| 13177 | February 03, 2010 | Shannon Rocci | Malden, MA | 1. Banked milk for adopted babies
2. Insurance reimbursement for lactation consultants |
| 13176 | February 03, 2010 | Pat Lindsey | Oviedo, FL | Promotion of breastfeeding is the most profound lowest costing healthcare benefit to mothers and babies. It also enriches bonding adding to family values. Please support policy that removes the barriers of a mother's choice to breastfeed her baby. Lack of paid maternity leave and lack of flexible break time in workplace to pump to provide breastmilk for babies is a huge barrier to mothers in the workplace being able to breastfeed their baby for the 1 year minimal time recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Thank you, Pat Lindsey, IBCLC, RLC |
| 13175 | February 03, 2010 | Renee Centore-Kelly | Enfield, CT | |
| 13174 | February 03, 2010 | Jeanne McMahon | Belleville, NJ | Please help women's health advocates and care providers make breastfeeding a priority and reality for all women. Breastfeeding ensures good health of children and women. |
| 13173 | February 03, 2010 | Berenice Zavala | Sarasota, FL | |
| 13172 | February 03, 2010 | Jennifer McCullough | Sutton, MA | |
| 13171 | February 03, 2010 | AUDREY MEEK | CLARKSVILLE, TN | |
| 13170 | February 03, 2010 | Jennifer Anders Katz | Brighton, MA | |
| 13169 | February 03, 2010 | Pamela Gaw | clinton, MA | thanks |
| 13168 | February 03, 2010 | Joy Smith | Danvers, MA | |
| 13167 | February 02, 2010 | Augusta Papp | Arlington, MA | |
| 13166 | February 02, 2010 | jody segrave-daly | camp hill, PA | |
| 13165 | February 02, 2010 | Catherine Johannessen | Roslindale, MA | |
| 13164 | February 02, 2010 | Gina Cicatelli Ciagne | Alexandria, VA | |
| 13163 | February 02, 2010 | Meredith Leclair | Fitchburg, MA | I would like our country to adopt a paid parenting leave of at least 6 months to support breastfeeding infants. |
| 13162 | February 02, 2010 | Ellen Bordman | Bridgewater, MA | |
| 13161 | February 02, 2010 | Brenda Phipps | Flagstaff, AZ |
