Dr. Christina Glick, a neonatologist, has been interested in human milk diets for premature infants as well as breastfeeding for all babies for a long time. To continue her advocacy for breastfeeding, she also runs Mississippi Lactation Services’ free-standing breastfeeding clinic. Mississippi Today spoke to Glick about breastfeeding and the stigma that still exists in Mississippi. Glick also discussed how America’s culture needs to change. Note from the editor: This Q+A was edited to be more concise and clear. Mississippi Today: Why breast milk is important for babies’ health, especially preterm babies? Dr. Christina Glick: Breastmilk in the NICU (neonatal intensive-care unit) has been proven to be lifesaving. Breast milk is proven to reduce the number of babies who die. This should be enough to convince us all that breast milk is essential. Breast milk is life-saving in a few ways. It reduces the amount of infections babies get. Bloodstream infections are a leading cause of death in premature babies. They can be reduced by breastfeeding. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe intestinal infection with a high mortality rate. Necrotic enterocolitis (NEC) usually occurs within the first two weeks of life for babies who receive formula rather than breast milk. This is when bacteria infects the intestinal wall. Breastmilk can be used to reduce the incidence of NEC infections in babies. The rate drops to almost zero when breast milk is used exclusively, which is simply amazing. One of the subtler things breast milk does, is it alters the bacterial microbiome in babies. We believe that this can have a positive impact on our lives. This is one of the many things we lose when we use formula, and it’s something we can’t replicate with probiotics. It is impossible to replicate this without fresh breast milk. Breast milk can do a lot of things that are almost magical and we’re only just beginning to understand. We believe that more information about these benefits will be available if we do more research. MT: One in seven Mississippi babies is preterm, as you may know. Preterm births, infant mortality, neonatal death, and infant mortality are all high in Mississippi. Despite these problems, we have one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the country. Despite the many benefits of breastfeeding, why is there still a stigma surrounding it? CG: My breastfeeding clinic has been open for seven years. What I have noticed is that the culture they live in has a profound impact on breastfeeding. This includes the way their grandmothers and mothers ate. A common complaint I hear is that someone comes in saying that their mother has told them to use formula as she doesn’t have enough milk. These are the voices that discourage breastfeeding. We need to increase breastfeeding rates in our community so that mothers, grandmothers, neighbors, and sisters all breastfeed. Then they will be able to share the breastfeeding journey with their friends and family so they can help a new mom who has low milk supply or a hungry baby. The first answer is not to give the baby formula. It’s better to breastfeed, or at least a little more frequently, in order for you increase your supply. Culturally, there is a lot of confusion about normal feeding. This is not good news for breastfeeding babies, especially in a culture that favors formula feeding. MT: Recently, it has become more common to discuss breastfeeding needs of working mothers. However, any improvements in breastfeeding accommodations at work have been concentrated in whiter, wealthier workplaces. It was my hope that you would speak a little more about this disparity. CG: Hourly workers are less likely to have the time and support they need to breastfeed. They are also not provided with a safe place to breastfeed. Hourly wage workers are frequently told to go to the toilet. It’s like telling hourly wage workers to go to the bathroom and eat lunch there. For mothers working, it is essential that there be safe, private, and clean places for them to pump. This is impossible in a white collar environment. If you are a banker or lawyer, you will have a private office. This allows you to be more flexible with your work hours and the length of time you need to pump. It’s very difficult to obtain adequate pump sessions and continue to supply milk to your baby if you work in an area where it isn’t possible to pump. MT: How do you feel about American breastfeeding practices? What should they change? CG: In countries that have breastfeeding as a standard, taxi drivers will often say to mothers when they see a crying baby. Breastfeeding is not a common practice in public. It will affect our breastfeeding rates if we don’t make it a part of our everyday behavior. I want new moms to not have to rely on me so that they can have access the expertise of grandmas and mamas in breastfeeding. Yes, I know there will be a need for me, my clinic, no matter what. But I want to provide community support so they don’t have the burden of coming to me for every problem with breastfeeding. They can get that support at home.