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.