Table 1 Areas of synergy and strategies for action to improve women's reproductive health, rights and justice

• There are the economic, political and cultural connections between women's rights to have children, and their rights not to have children

• Women place importance and value on being able to mother in ways that are consistent with their own values, and on being creatively and productively engaged in the labor force

• The decision to breastfeed is not a "real choice" for many women if not supported by policies and programs that provide all women, regardless of their social position, with education, opportunity, and control over their bodies and lives.

Reproductive Health

Reproductive Rights

Reproductive Justice

• Create a mother-friendly health care system

• Recognize the importance and value of women's reproductive and productive roles.

• Secure economic justice for women

• Value women as whole beings

• Create a mother-friendly workplace

• Secure racial and ethnic equality

• Secure better governmental oversight over pharmaceutical labeling and infant formula

• Engage the US as a global partner in human rights efforts

Individual/Family

• Support recognition by individuals and by families of the costs and benefits of mother/child attentive support throughout the reproductive health continuum.

• Provide broad based education on benefits and practice of breastfeeding for:

Health care system:

Initiate and approve legislation to enable breastfeeding, including:

• Ensure that families understand the potential impact of less than optimal infant feeding on the health and welfare of mothers, children and families.

• Public

• Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative

• Breastfeeding promotion and incentives

• Clinicians

• Access to midwives and holistic care

• Family planning access

• Employers

Worksites:

• Donor milk banking

• Unions

• Maternity leave

• Health insurance coverage for lactation services

• Policymakers

• Onsite child care

• Paid maternity, family and medical leave

• Raise public awareness of infant formula companies' practices

• Support for breastfeeding and pumping

Encourage US Government ratification of UN Conventions:

• Increase women's access to resources and opportunities

• Flexible hours and home work

• Convention on the Rights of the Child

• Continue Breastfeeding and Feminism Symposia

• Part-time work with benefits

• Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

Universities/Research Centers:

• Reduce academic "silos"

• Collaborative partners

• Evidence and knowledge based dissemination

• Research on "lived realities" of diverse populations

• Scientific working group on ethical and safe methods for researching impact of medications on lactation