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Becoming a new parent is filled with joys and challenges — and every family’s feeding journey looks different. But for parents impacted by breast or gynecologic cancer, navigating infant feeding can come with unexpected hurdles. Despite existing support for breastfeeding, there’s a critical gap in resources for those who can’t nurse for medical reasons.
Bobbie and The Breasties are working to change this inequity, pushing for policy reform while directly supporting parents who rely on formula. Read on to learn more about the impact of cancer on infant feeding, the existing policy gap, and how we can drive meaningful change together.
The Hidden Struggles of Parents Facing Health Concerns
According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight women will get invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. And for young parents impacted, feeding their baby can be especially challenging.
The CDC and other research show that treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation often make breastfeeding impossible. This leaves parents juggling alternative feeding options while also managing their health. The physical strain of treatment, combined with the emotional toll of not being able to nurse, can be overwhelming.
The Unfair Burden on Parents Who Can’t Breastfeed
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) guarantees insurance-covered breast pumps for all new parents, including those who’ve undergone cancer-related surgeries. But for parents who can’t breastfeed due to cancer, a breast pump is useless — what they really need is access to formula or donor milk. Yet, the ACA doesn’t cover these essential feeding options, leaving families to shoulder the cost alone.
This isn’t just an oversight; it’s a glaring inequity. Parents battling or recovering from breast and gynecologic cancer often don’t have the option to nurse. Their babies rely on formula or donor milk to thrive, yet insurance policies fail to recognize this need.
No parent should have to struggle to feed their baby — especially while battling or recovering from cancer. Yet, many do, simply because the current system fails to support these needs. Addressing this issue means not only advocating for insurance equity but also ensuring that all parents receive the guidance, support and resources they need to confidently nourish their little ones – regardless of how they choose to feed.
The Fight for Formula Access and Feeding Support
For parents facing cancer, getting access to formula isn’t always easy — but The Breasties and Bobbie are here to change that.
The Breasties, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting those affected by breast and gynecologic cancers, offers retreats, events, and a powerful community network. They provide emotional and educational support for survivors, previvors and thrivers — because no one should have to navigate this journey alone. Now, they’re taking their mission even further, advocating for parents who can’t breastfeed due to cancer and ensuring they get the resources they need.
Bobbie is just as committed to feeding equity. Since 2020, the Bobbie Breasties Program has provided 415 parents impacted by cancer with a full year of Bobbie formula — and they’re not stopping there. Bobbie is pushing for policy change, raising awareness and making sure no parent is left behind when it comes to feeding their little one.
The Breasties x Bobbie Partnership: Advocating for Cancer-Affected Parents
The partnership between The Breasties and Bobbie is all about making real change for parents affected by cancer. The Breasties bring the power of community and advocacy while Bobbie steps in with real, tangible feeding support.
Here’s how the partnership is making change:
- Petition for insurance equity: Bobbie launched a petition advocating for insurance coverage of formula and donor milk for parents unable to breastfeed due to cancer treatments. This effort aims to fix policy gaps and provide fair support to parents across the board.
- Awareness campaigns: Through collaborative campaigns, Bobbie and The Breasties have highlighted the feeding struggles of cancer-impacted parents, bringing attention to the emotional and financial burdens these families endure.
- Direct formula support: Over the past four years, the Bobbie Breasties Program has given a full year of Bobbie formula to hundreds of new parents facing cancer. This initiative helps lighten the financial burden for struggling families and ensures every little one gets the nourishment they need to thrive. It also creates a community for parents going through similar challenges, navigating things like surgery, cancer treatment, surrogacy and menopause.
By combining advocacy, awareness and action, Bobbie’s partnership with The Breasties aims to make a meaningful difference in the lives of families navigating cancer and infant feeding challenges.
How You Can Make a Difference
Want to get involved? Whether you or a loved one has been affected by cancer, or you’re simply a parent who understands the struggle and wants to help, there are several meaningful ways you can make a difference:
- Sign the petition: Help us advocate for insurance-covered formula for parents impacted by cancer. Your signature can help push the needle on this crucial policy change, so no parent has to choose between their health and their baby’s nutrition.
- Download the advocacy toolkit: Equip yourself with the resources you need to push for legislative change. Bobbie’s toolkit offers tips on how to spread awareness and take action — increasing the momentum needed for real, lasting change.
- Donate to The Breasties: Support The Breasties’ mission to empower cancer-impacted families through a donation. Your contribution helps fund their vital work — offering emotional and educational support to cancer-impacted families, organizing retreats and fighting for equitable access to resources like formula and donor milk.
- Apply to be a Bobbie Breastie: If you or someone you know is navigating cancer and facing feeding challenges, you can also apply to be a Bobbie Breastie. Applications open each September! Through this program, eligible families receive a full year of Bobbie formula to reduce financial stress and ensure babies receive necessary nourishment.
Remember, every action counts!
Join The Breasties x Bobbie Movement
Parents facing cancer shouldn’t have to worry about how to feed their babies — yet many do. Bobbie and The Breasties are taking a stand to change that, fighting for insurance equity, formula access and meaningful support for those impacted by cancer. We’re advocating for policy change and providing direct assistance through the Bobbie x Breasties Program.
But the movement needs your help. You can make a real impact by signing the petition for insurance-covered formula, spreading the word to raise awareness and supporting parents facing the challenges of cancer-related feeding struggles. Together, we can create a world where every parent has the resources and support they need to nourish their little ones.
Looking for formula support or want to make a difference? Learn more about The Breasties and Bobbie partnership and find out how you can join the movement today!