Article Summary –
Maomoua Vue, a registered dietitian nutritionist for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in Wisconsin, is creating educational videos in the Hmong language to encourage greater breastfeeding among the Hmong community. She has so far made three videos showing how to prepare for breastfeeding, the benefits of breastfeeding, and how to manage breastfeeding when returning to work. Vue’s initiative is in response to lower rates of breastfeeding among non-white mothers in the U.S., thought to be due to a lack of support and the misconception that formula feeding is more beneficial or independent.
Transitioning from Formula to Breastfeeding in the Hmong Community
Maomoua Vue, who grew up in Laos where breastfeeding is prevalent, noticed a stark difference when she moved to the US. In her new home, she found that more women opt for formula instead of breastfeeding. This trend was particularly noticeable amongst Hmong women who, like Vue, had migrated to America post-Vietnam War. The assumption was that formula feeding was the key to independent, healthy, and strong children, similar to American women.
Despite the American Academy of Pediatrics recognizing breastfeeding as the nutritional gold standard for infants, US breastfeeding rates are lower than other developed countries. Formula, a decent but less nutritious alternative, is the go-to for many American mothers. A significant factor in this choice is the lack of support from employers and communities, causing parents, especially non-white mothers, to lean away from breastfeeding. This contributes to a substantial racial disparity in breastfeeding practices.
While Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services doesn’t provide specific breastfeeding stats for its large Hmong population, the data shows around 5% of Asian women and 10% of white women on the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program breastfed in 2022.
Vue, a WIC program registered dietitian nutritionist, aims to change these stats. She’s developing educational breastfeeding videos in the Hmong language, hoping to inspire more Hmong women to embrace breastfeeding and impact future Hmong generations positively. Vue’s initiative began after realizing the need for more resources when she developed the state’s first bilingual breastfeeding peer counselor training program.
Presenting health information and education in a community’s native language, Vue believes, engenders trust and allows for more significant impact. This belief extends to all cultures, asserting that information is more influential when shared by a person of the same culture.
Vue’s first video prepares mothers for breastfeeding by outlining available resources, including lactation consultants and peer counselors. Her second video highlights breastfeeding’s overall and long-term benefits. And in the third video, Vue advises on navigating breastfeeding post-return to work, mentioning protective laws and policies for workplace pumping.
Creating these videos in Hmong is crucial as child-rearing in Hmong culture is a multigenerational effort. Grandparents, who primarily speak Hmong, often care for children while parents work. The whole family contributes, making these breastfeeding education videos vital for everyone involved in childcare.
Vue, one of the few Hmong dietitians in the US, according to Viterbo University, fears the loss of cultural competency with younger US-born Hmong generations not fully immersed in the culture. However, she hopes her videos will help preserve this knowledge. She also desires that her work will inspire Hmong women to explore diverse career paths.
Correction 3/29: The bilingual breastfeeding peer counselor training program was the first in the state, not just the county.
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