This nearly two-fold increase could be leading to increased rates of breastfeeding nationwide and contributing to healthier children. According to the CDC’s latest Vital Signs report, while use of the breastfeeding guidelines to support the practice in hospitals has increased, the organization recommends more should can and should be done.
“Breastfeeding has immense health benefits for babies and their mothers,” Tom Frieden, MD, director of the CDC, said in a statement. “More hospitals are better supporting new moms to breastfeed — every newborn should have the best possible start in life.”
Babies that are breastfed have reduced risks of ear, respiratory, stomach and intestinal infections, according to the CDC. They also have a lower risk for asthma, obesity and sudden infant death syndrome. If breastfeeding recommendations were met nationwide, it would add up to a savings of more than $2 billion annually.
Here are nine findings from the CDC’s latest Vital Signs report.
There are specific actions hospitals can take to better support mothers who breastfeed. These include:
• Implementing the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and work towards achieving Baby-Friendly status through the the Baby-Friendly Hospital Inititative;
• Using customized reports from CDC’s Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care survey to improve maternity care practices that support breastfeeding;
• Working with doctors, nurses, lactation care providers and organizations to create networks that provide clinic-based, at-home or community breastfeeding support for mothers.
Continued improvement is necessary because:
• In 2013 only 26 percent of hospitals ensured that only breastmilk was given to healthy infants who did not need formula for a medical reason;
• Only 45 percent of hospitals kept mothers and babies together throughout their entire stay and;
• Only 32 percent of hospitals provided enough support for breastfeeding mothers after discharge.
Additional findings include:
• Early initiation of breastfeeding increased from approximately 44 percent in 2007 to nearly 65 in 2013;
• Teaching mothers breastfeeding techniques increased from 88 percent in 2007 to 92 percent in 2013 and;
• Prenatal breastfeeding education rose from 91 percent in 2007 to 93 percent in 2013.
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