E92: The Environmental Domain of the Fourth Trimester

Only one in four infants in the U.S. is exclusively breastfed for the first six months, despite strong evidence linking breastfeeding to better health outcomes for both mother and baby. Success often depends less on individual determination and more on the environments that shape a mother’s daily life—home, workplace, and community.

Lactation specialist Anna Burch, RN, joins Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, DNP, in the environmental domain of the fourth trimester to explore how surroundings influence postpartum experiences. The conversation examines what makes an ideal feeding environment at home, the impact of workplace and public space accommodations, and how stressors such as noise, lighting, and privacy can affect milk production. They also discuss the social and cultural pressures that shape breastfeeding journeys, the role of family and community support, and the policies that could create more equitable environments for new parents.