Ep. 56: An Interview With Leah Ford On Being a Boob Defender

Note to listeners: This was our last pre-recorded episode from the summer. We recorded this back in August during National Breastfeeding Month! Enjoy!

EQ: What is the current state of women’s health in Pierce County and why is this a social justice issue?

Guest: Leah Ford,  a TESC graduate, breastfeeding peer counselor, mother of 2 and advocate for women’s health in Pierce County. 

Leah defines the role of a breastfeeding peer counselor, explains why it’s so crucial for breastfeeding moms (especially of color), and why this work is not recognized on  a systemic level. For example, while Pierce County needs more peer counselors it doesn’t offer benefits and supports to generate more interest. For varying reasons, our county doesn’t follow effective models like King County. 

Leah elaborates on the racial and ethnic disparities in breastfeeding citing important data around why Black Women Higher Risk of Pregnancy Complications and how America Is Failing Black Moms. The conversation includes wrestling with the biggest challenges in health services in Pierce County and what we need to do to overcome these issues. 

A few resources mentioned in the episode:

• Infant Health Program Diversifies Lactation Support

• International board certified lactation consultant)

• Racial Disparities in Contraceptive Use (LARC)

• Black Infant Health Ministers 

Champagne & Real Pain:

• Champagne:  for the Target in Weatherford, Texas put up signs in their store telling parents to breastfeed wherever and whenever they need to. 

• Real Pain: for the lifeguard at the Kokomo Beach Water Park in Kokomo, Indiana for telling a breastfeeding mom to stop even though Indiana state law allows women to breastfeed anywhere. 

Do Your Fudging Homework:

• Annie: normalize breastfeeding by encouraging your favorite local businesses to put up signage or create a comfortable space for breastfeeding parents (not in a bathroom stall, please). 

• Hope: Deal with your issues if you’re uncomfortable with breastfeeding--if you’re in the medical field, try to use privileges to complain/criticize/critique the system in order to improve it.

• Leah: support moms by offering breastfeeding rooms; reconsider the time of breaks; make a policy as your office (if you don’t know what this looks like, research tool kits and adopt a reasonable policy).