Every year during World Breastfeeding Week (August 1–7), we pause to reflect on the feeding journeys families take, and how our communities can do more to support them. This year’s theme, “Invest in Breastfeeding, Invest in the Future,” comes at a particularly meaningful time here in Arkansas.

Because this year, we’re celebrating more than awareness, we’re celebrating action.

Earlier this year, Arkansas passed a new law (ACT 627) that will require Medicaid to cover lactation services starting January 1, 2026. It’s a landmark win for families across the state, and especially for the many parents who’ve long been shut out of the care they need simply because of how they’re insured.

For those of us in private practice lactation care, this moment feels deeply personal. We’ve watched families struggle to pay out-of-pocket. We’ve heard the stories of feeding challenges that could have been eased with just a little more support. And we’ve worked tirelessly to fill in the gaps left by underfunded systems.

Now, Arkansas is finally stepping up to close one of those gaps. And it matters.

Beyond Slogans: What Families Really Need

As we honor this week, it’s also a time to reflect on how we talk about infant feeding in general, and how much language really does matter.

We often hear phrases like ‘breast is best’ or ‘fed is best,’ but both can miss the mark in meaningful ways. For some families, these slogans can feel dismissive, guilt-inducing, or overly simplistic in the face of complex feeding journeys. The truth is, feeding our babies isn’t about what’s best or ideal, it’s about what’s necessary. Babies need nourishment, full stop. 

How that happens will look different for every family. For some, it’s breastfeeding. For others, it’s pumping, donor milk, formula, or a combination of many approaches. And all of it is valid.

Let’s move away from ranking feeding methods and instead focus on supporting families with what they need, not just physically, but emotionally and logistically. Fed is necessary reminds us that no matter how we feed our babies, what matters most is that they are nourished, loved, and thriving; and that the people caring for them are supported, not shamed.

What the New Law Changes, and What It Doesn’t (Yet)

Starting in January 2026, Arkansas Medicaid will reimburse for outpatient lactation care meaning families can finally access private practice IBCLCs (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and CLC’s (Certified Lactation Counselors) without the financial strain. This is especially important in rural and underserved areas where hospital-based lactation care may be unavailable or hard to reach after birth.

But coverage alone isn’t the finish line.

As a mother who was on Medicaid in Arkansas with my sons, I know firsthand how hard it can be to access lactation support. I remember calling my local hospital, leaving message after message, desperately trying to get help. I had no idea what I was doing, and that helplessness stayed with me. That’s when I learned how few lactation consultants there were in our state, and it’s what inspired me to become one myself.

Starting a lactation practice outside of a hospital setting came with its own set of challenges. For years, insurance companies wouldn’t work directly with lactation consultants, which meant most of our patients had to pay out of pocket. Many couldn’t afford to, so we saw them pro bono, but that’s not sustainable when you’re trying to support your own family too. That’s why this new coverage is such a game-changer. It will make a real, lasting impact.

But coverage is just the beginning. We still need:

• Awareness — so families know this care exists
  
  

• Referrals — from pediatricians, OBs, doulas, and midwives to lactation experts in the community
  
  

• Workplace protections and paid leave — so feeding goals aren’t crushed by logistical barriers
  
  

• Cultural change — where every feeding choice is met with support, not shame
  
  

A Culture of Support, Not Shame

In private practice, we often work with families well after those first few postpartum days, when hospital support has ended, and reality has set in. We see the late-night Google searches, the tears, the confusion, and the fierce love behind every decision.

Whether a family is trying to re-latch after a rough start, navigate pumping at work, or wean in a way that feels right for them, the need is the same: they deserve informed, compassionate care.

What You Can Do This Week

Even though the Medicaid coverage doesn’t kick in until 2026, this is the perfect time to prepare:

• If you’re a provider, start building referral relationships with community-based IBCLCs.

• If you’re a parent, reach out early and ask questions. There’s no wrong time to get support.

• If you’re a community leader or policymaker, keep the momentum going: expand coverage, improve access, and protect time and space for feeding and pumping.

• And no matter who you are, be a soft place to land for the families in your life.

Mark the Moment with Us

 World Breastfeeding Week 2025
️ August 1–7
 Theme: Invest in Breastfeeding, Invest in the Future
 #WorldBreastfeedingWeek #ArkansasBreastfeeds #MedicaidMatters #HopefulFutures

Let’s celebrate this milestone. Let’s keep showing up. Let’s remember that feeding journeys are never one-size-fits-all, but support should be.

And come January 1, 2026, Arkansas will be one step closer to making that a reality. 

Authored By: Sondra Rodocker, IBCLC - Owner of Arkansas Breastfeeding Clinic