Governor Gretchen Whitmer is a lifelong Michigander. She is a lawyer, an educator, former prosecutor, State Representative and Senator. She was the first woman to lead a Senate caucus. But the most important title she boasts is MOM. Inspired by her family, she’s devoted her life to building a stronger Michigan for everyone.
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August 01, 2023
WHEREAS, breastfeeding is not a lifestyle choice – it is a racial equity and public health imperative and should be made feasible for every family; and,
WHEREAS, we must address systemic barriers to breastfeeding, including ensuring paid family leave, workplace support, and culturally-appropriate breastfeeding support; and,
WHEREAS, breastfeeding and providing young children with human milk results in improved child and maternal health outcomes, is a key disease prevention strategy for various conditions, including breast and ovarian cancers, serious colds and ear and throat infections, gastrointestinal tract infections, necrotizing enterocolitis, sudden infant death syndrome, asthma, atopic dermatitis, eczema, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and leukemia, many of which disproportionately impact Black, Brown, and Indigenous Peoples; and,
WHEREAS, the American Academy of Pediatrics concludes that breastfeeding and human milk are the reference normative standards for infant feeding and nutrition; and,
WHEREAS, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about 6 months, with continuation of breastfeeding for 2 years or longer as mutually desired by mother and child, a recommendation the World Health Organization and the Institute of Medicine concurred; and,
WHEREAS, breastfeeding and providing human milk to young children is central to reclaiming traditional birth practices from the detrimental and ongoing impacts of colonialism and chattel slavery on Indigenous and Black communities; and,
WHEREAS, breastfeeding in public is protected under the 2014 Breastfeeding Anti-Discrimination Act in Michigan; and,
WHEREAS, just as everyone in society benefits from breastfeeding and young children receiving human milk, everyone must contribute to making these practices accessible to ensure a healthy future in Michigan;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim August 2023 as Breastfeeding Month in Michigan.