Breastfeeding & Early Life Outreach with Versatile Education in Nutrition (BELOVEN)

Helping families prepare for breastfeeding

Pregnancy and life with a new baby bring questions, changes, and decisions. BELOVEN offers free online breastfeeding education and resources to help parents prepare, understand their options, and work toward their feeding goals. We are also developing nutrition education to support a healthy pregnancy and help parents care for their own nutritional needs during breastfeeding.

BELOVEN stands for Breastfeeding & Early-Life Outreach with Versatile Education in Nutrition. Our goal is to make reliable information easier to understand and use while supporting the health of both parents and babies.

A healthy beginning matters

The first 1,000 days—from pregnancy through a child’s second birthday—are an important time for growth and development. Nutrition during pregnancy and early childhood helps support a strong foundation for health [1]. Caring for a baby also means caring for the person nourishing them.

Human milk provides nutrients and other components that support infant development and immune function. Breastfeeding is associated with lower rates of ear infections, serious diarrhea, and lower respiratory tract infections [2].

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about six months, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside appropriate foods for two years or longer, as mutually desired by parent and child [2]. Every family’s circumstances are different, and families deserve clear information and respectful support as they make feeding decisions.

Families need support, not just recommendations

Breastfeeding is a learned skill. Questions about positioning, milk supply, pumping, and returning to work or school are common.

Although most U.S. infants receive some breast milk, only about 30% are exclusively breastfed through six months [3]. Families can face barriers such as limited access to skilled lactation care, work demands, and inadequate support at home or in healthcare settings [2,4].

Research shows that breastfeeding support can help families continue breastfeeding. In 2025, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended offering breastfeeding support during pregnancy and after birth, or referring families to that support [4,5].

What BELOVEN offers

Our online education uses simple text, illustrations, and short videos to explain breastfeeding in practical terms. Most of our resources focus on preparing for breastfeeding and understanding how it works. Parents can explore topics such as:

• Getting started with breastfeeding.
• How milk production works.
• Recognizing signs that a baby is getting enough milk.
• Hand expression and pumping.
• Preparing to return to work or school.

Alongside these breastfeeding resources, BELOVEN will offer nutrition education to support a healthy pregnancy. We will also share information about nutrition during breastfeeding, helping mothers make practical food choices and care for themselves as they nourish their babies.

As the pilot program develops, we plan to add video-based postpartum lactation support and educational opportunities for healthcare professionals.

Built with families and informed by research

BELOVEN is led by the ORIANE Lab at the University of California, Davis, under the direction of Assistant Professor Jennifer T. Smilowitz, PhD.

BELOVEN brings together scientific evidence, parents’ experiences, and the expertise of nutrition and lactation professionals. We use surveys, interviews, and feedback to improve the program and evaluate how well it meets families’ needs.

For healthcare professionals, educators, community organizations, and research partners, BELOVEN offers an opportunity to evaluate and help shape accessible nutrition and breastfeeding education. Our shared goal is to help more families receive useful information and timely support.

Explore our breastfeeding education, meet the team, or contact us to learn about the program.

References

1. Stoody EE, Spahn JM, Casavale KO. The Pregnancy and Birth to 24 Months Project: a series of systematic reviews on diet and health. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2019;109(Suppl 7):685S–697S. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqy366.

2. Meek JY, Noble L; Section on Breastfeeding. Policy statement: Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics. 2022;150(1):e2022057988. doi:10.1542/peds.2022-057988.

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National and State Breastfeeding Rates: Data Results. Updated July 31, 2026. Data for children born in 2023. cdc.gov/breastfeeding-data/survey/results.html.

4. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Primary care behavioral counseling interventions to support breastfeeding: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2025;333(17):1520–1526. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.3650.

5. Gavine A, Shinwell SC, Buchanan P, et al. Support for healthy breastfeeding mothers with healthy term babies. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2022;10:CD001141. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001141.pub6.