Dear BFREE Coalition Members,

Welcome to our January BFREE Newsletter. We hope you had a wonderful holiday season with family and friends and wish everyone a happy and healthy 2018!

This edition focuses on ideas for identifying and providing breastfeeding support. First, we are excited to introduce our newest extraordinary team member, Jennifer Giordano, an expert in lactation and an invaluable resource with our efforts. Next, please join us in celebrating the success of Long Island’s latest Breastfeeding Friendly Daycare Home: Small Blessings. One of our project coordinators then reveals her sage advice on how to involve partners in breastfeeding support, an important factor in success. In addition, we take pleasure in sharing 2 beautiful stories from breastfeeding mothers who have experienced both hardship and incredible support during their journeys. Their narratives not only are a testament to the resiliency of these women, but also highlight the value and importance of everyone’s work as the BFREE coalition.

Thank you to this month’s contributors for sharing, to the BFREE Steering Committee for their passion and thoughtful guidance, and to each of you for your engagement and support. Feedback on our newsletter is always welcome and if you are interested in contributing to future Newsletters, please email your ideas to us at BFREE@northwell.edu.

Many thanks for making a difference!

Henry (Hank) Bernstein, DO, MHCM, FAAPPrincipal InvestigatorCreating Breastfeeding Friendly Communities