Breastfeeding support is a public health imperative — and a smart investment

Dr. Leslie Saltzman

In her latest blog, Dr. Leslie Saltzman — Chief Product Officer at Ovia Health and Medical Discipline Director, Consumer Health at Labcorp — explains how Ovia’s personalized care and digital support tools boost breastfeeding success, protect maternal and infant health, lower costs, and support public health.

Breastfeeding offers powerful, lifelong benefits — for both babies and mothers. For infants, it lowers the risk of serious health conditions like obesity, type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).¹ For mothers, it’s linked to reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.¹

It’s no surprise, then, that many new mothers want to breastfeed. But wanting to breastfeed is one thing — being able to is another. Breastfeeding is deeply personal — and often harder than anyone expects. In the U.S., 83% of mothers start out breastfeeding but only 25% are still exclusively breastfeeding at six months¹—falling well short of the 42% national target.2 

This drop-off isn’t due to a lack of motivation. It’s due to a lack of support. Families face real, systemic barriers: limited access to lactation consultants, workplace and cultural pressures, and confusing or inaccessible insurance benefits.1 Without timely, consistent help, even the most committed parents can struggle to continue.

And the consequences are far-reaching. Babies miss out on critical protections, mothers lose important health gains, and health plans face higher costs. Research shows that if more families met breastfeeding recommendations, the U.S. could save $13 billion annually and prevent thousands of unnecessary deaths.4

Breastfeeding isn’t just a personal milestone. It’s a public health priority — and one we all have a role in advancing.

Ovia closes gaps in breastfeeding disparities

Support is the solution. When mothers receive the right care at the right time — care that’s consistent, accessible, and personalized — they’re far more likely to reach their breastfeeding goals. That’s where Ovia comes in. We support members through every stage of their journey — from early pregnancy through postpartum — with solutions that are deeply personalized and inclusive.

Our approach for breastfeeding support:

  • The Ovia Care Team: One of our highest-rated features, this team includes health coaches who are certified lactation consultants and available 365 days a year at no cost to members. Unlimited 1:1 support removes common barriers such as childcare needs, wait times, and out-of-pocket expenses.
  • Tailored feeding plans: Customized to each member’s lifestyle, unique needs, and personal goals.
  • On-demand education: Accessible articles, videos, and our Breastfeeding Bootcamp series designed to provide practical support whenever members need it.
  • Seamless benefit access: Easy connection to covered benefits such as breast pumps and lactation counseling, helping families fully utilize their health plan offerings.
  • CareFinder service: Personalized assistance connecting members to resources including in-network mental health providers. Learn more in our recent case study.

Ovia’s approach is tailored, culturally aware, and designed to close the gaps that too often prevent families from reaching their breastfeeding goals — especially in underserved communities.

Our proactive, inclusive model helps more women get the support they need, when they need it, in ways that reflect and respect their lived experience.

What the data tells us

When women receive timely, compassionate support tailored to their individual needs, the positive effects extend far beyond families — leading to better health outcomes for both babies and moms. Ovia+ members experience:

  • 91%* breastfeeding initiation (compared to 83% nationally)¹
  • 70%* exclusive breastfeeding at six months (compared to 25% nationally)¹
  • Up to a 15% increase** in breast pump benefit utilization compared to non-Ovia members

Additionally, among members who used the Ovia CareFinder service and responded to follow up, 62%*** had already made or attended an appointment with a mental health provider.

These aren’t just statistics — they reflect real, measurable impact: healthier starts, more confident parents, and reduced healthcare costs. They’re the result of a supportive approach that’s both strategic and deeply human.

“Ovia has been helpful giving info on breast pumps through my insurance company. The coaches have been so helpful even during the holidays.”

“Super timely responses from coaches, relevant into, handy to be able to time breastfeeding sessions.” 

— Ovia+ members

A path toward equity — and efficiency

With the right digital tools and clinical support, your organization can boost breastfeeding rates, improve member health outcomes, and create a more equitable, sustainable future for families. Health plans play a crucial role—and bear the responsibility—to invest in proactive solutions like Ovia, which are proven to reduce medical spending.

Partner with Ovia to improve breastfeeding rates, enhance maternal and infant health, and lower healthcare costs—creating lasting impact for families and communities.

Contact us to learn more about our comprehensive women’s health programs, including 1:1 coaching, guideline-driven clinical programs, and personalized health and wellness education.

*The above outcomes reflect member data that was collected between 1/1/25 – 8/12/25.

**The above outcome reflects the greatest improvement experienced by a single client for this/these clinical condition area(s). Other clients may have experienced less, no or negative improvement in this/these clinical area(s). Actual results may vary based upon initial prevalence rate and engagement rates.

***Results include appointments both with providers shared by CareFinder and with providers respondents identified separately. Results are based on a small subset of Ovia app users and may not be representative of user experiences generally.

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Breastfeeding Report Card. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding-data/breastfeeding-report-card.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About breastfeeding data. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding-data/about/index.html. 
  3. Nelson JM, Grossniklaus DA. Trends in Hospital Breastfeeding Policies in the United States from 2009-2015: Results from the Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care Survey. Breastfeed Med. 2019;14(3):165-171. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30844300.
  4. Bartick M, Stuebe AM, Sheehan M, et al. Suboptimal breastfeeding in the United States: maternal and pediatric health outcomes and costs. Matern Child Nutr. 2017;13(1):e12366. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6866210.