Abstract
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Thank you to my friend, Jerome Adams, who leads the Indiana State Department of Health. I worked with him in Indiana on issues to improve the lives and health of citizens. Jerome, I applaud your leadership in the area of infant mortality in Indiana. I am on the Board of Riley Children's Hospital, and that is our number one focus.
While I was First Lady of Indiana, infant mortality was our number one health issue. We had the Labor of Love campaign, and we had an annual summit on the topic as well. I am happy to tell you that that summit has grown in attendance from originally <500 in 2013, to almost 800 healthcare providers last year. I just want to take a moment to brag on Indiana, just a little bit. Jerome is doing a great job.
But you know we all want to join in the fight for our babies, and the 2017 Indiana Infant Mortality Summit will focus on the maternal and newborn impact of the opioid epidemic, which is also hurting many of our children.
You are going to hear from a variety of national speakers, and most of you are high-level representatives. I want to give you just a little personal side before I wish you well on your journey.
I was not breastfed, and, in my mom's generation, I don't think it was as popular. So, interestingly, when I chose to breastfeed all of our children, I got a lot of support from my mother-in-law. She breastfed all six of her children. So, the Vice President was breastfed. We can say that today.
I did not get the support from my mom because I think she felt like I was choosing something she had not chosen. But thanks to Dr. Koop, I was one of those people 25 years ago who benefited from learning the benefits of breastfeeding.
Mike and I struggled with infertility for 6 years and went through a lot of heartache and many experiments. Finally, everything did kick in. I got pregnant with my second and third child while I was breastfeeding, which they told me could not happen, but it happened.
When I finally knew I was going to actually have a child, I wanted to do absolutely everything I possibly could for his health. I had all the books—I mean stacks and stacks of books.
But for me, I did not really feel like I even had to make a choice. For me it was like this is the best thing for him. It is the best thing for me and so, of course, I was going to do it.
I had the benefit of being able to be an at-home mom, so I understand there are issues out in the workplace for women. For me, it was the education that was started so many years ago that made it a no-brainer. But what I was surprised to hear that even many physicians are not educating that breastfeeding is the best thing. I just applaud you for what you are doing.
I think the more that we can educate and take away the stigma that we have in some of our communities that goes with breastfeeding, I think the better that we are all going to be. And for me it was an education that started so vigorously with Dr. Koop so many years ago. You may feel like, “Oh, we got that done and so many people benefited.” But it is an ongoing process.
So, I want to thank you for everything that you are doing. It is a privilege for me to speak out on the benefits of breastfeeding. I was not breastfed. I turned out okay. But I think the more we can tell people, this really is the best thing. That antibodies stay with the child for a long time, and it just seems like such a smart choice to make. It was choice that I made, and I am glad that I did. And I am just so grateful that you are doing what you can.
We intend to Tweet about the Summit. We do not have the followers that some other people do, but we have about 200,000 followers. We are going to put the word out there on our part.
Thank you, Dr. Adams, for including me and suggesting that I come today and welcome you all and start off your Summit because it is something that I am very passionate about. We just want to do all we can to save the babies, and the mommas too. So, thank you.