To-wen Tseng Blogs
All About Extended Breastfeeding
Extended breastfeeding, which is considered breastfeeding beyond one year in the U.S., has been a popular topic among my mom friends and readers. It seems my mom friends never stopped debating and my mom readers never stopped asking “shall I stop breastfeeding when my child turns one?” “Does extended breastfeeding lead to tooth decay?” “Why…
Read MoreGoodbye, Pump—What to do with your breast pump when you’re done with pumping
Today I said goodbye to my breast pump.
Read MoreBreastfeeding: A Vital Pandemic Response
The infant formula advertisements have increased since the outbreak of COVID-19. The World Health Organization(WHO) warned that countries failed to stop harmful marketing of breast-milk substitute. Market Watch predicted that the global infant formula market is going to grow due to the COVID-19 impact. Investigative journalists reported on the evidence of this harmful practice of formula marketing. Pandemic…
Read MoreWhat if we include the work of “Breast milk Production” in the GDP?
Recently I read an economic analysis report which argues that breastfeeding isn’t free and that work should be included in the GDP (gross domestic product). “What we measure reflects what we value and shapes what we do,” economists Nancy Folbre and Julie P. Smith wrote in the report. “International systems for measuring the economy have institutionalized the…
Read MoreCDPH visitation guidelines now recommend two visitors at one time for NICU patients
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently changed its visitor limitation guidance: it is now recommended that two designated support persons can visit a NICU patient at the same time. Before this update, the guidance suggested only one visitor be allowed in the NICU. It is a major win for California postpartum families. Recognizing and…
Read MoreWHO says Countries failed to implement the Code of Marketing of Infant Formula
The global COVID-19 pandemic highlights the importance of protecting breastfeeding—the optimal nutrition for infants—to improve child health and survival. “I am seeing way too many emails from formula reps to hospital administrators who are trying to use the pandemic to sidestep state, industry or Baby Friendly guidelines on their in-hospital marketing practices,” tweeted Kimberly Seals Allers, author…
Read MoreFrom One Mom to Another: Keep Calm and Breastfeed On
My first child was born right before Mother’s Day. I’ve always said that he is my Mother’s Day present. This year that “Mother’s Day present” turned seven years old. I took him to the pediatrician for his annual wellness check. At the door of the clinic, I saw a very little baby, probably two or…
Read MoreA Quick COVID-19 Guide for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Mothers
***Information on COVID-19 is rapidly evolving, and this guide could become outdated by the time you read it. For the most up to date information, please visit the CDC information page at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/pregnancy-breastfeeding.html COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness. The investigation to determine more about…
Read MoreIt’s 2020 and I still hear people say, “Mothers breastfeed because they cannot afford formula.”
A while ago my 6-year-old and his best friend talked about if chocolate milk comes from “special black cow” at a playdate. The conversation just made me and the other mother laugh. And then, randomly, I told the other mom, “you know there is actually a documentary called ‘chocolate milk.’ It is about breastfeeding disparities…
Read MoreThe Childcare-Conference Conundrum
A while ago I attended the 2020 California Breastfeeding Summit as a poster presenter and an awardee. I was thrilled to be there. Conferences like these are vital forums for academic researchers and activists. At these meetings, scientists communicate discoveries, activists form advocacy collaborations, make contacts with funding agencies, and attract new members to our programs. But…
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