More new moms breastfeeding

More new moms choosing to breastfeed

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control shows that almost 74% of women who gave birth in 2004 initially breastfed their babies, compared to just under 71% of women whose babies were born in 2000. But only around 30% of those babies were exclusively breastfed up to 3 months of age, and rates plummeted for 6 month olds (just 41% were breastfed) and babies turning 1 (just under 21%).

The figure of 74% falls just short of government objectives (set at 75%) but the number of exclusively breastfed babies falls well short of the government’s objective of 60%. And the results for babies from 12 months up flies in the face of American Academy of Pediatrics advice that babies should be breastfed for at least the first 12 months of their lives and a World Health Organization recommendation that babies be breastfed up to 2 years or older.

Just under three quarters of new moms are initiating breastfeeding – but far too many are still giving up in the first few months

It’s well known that breastfeeding has many health benefits for babies: breastfed babies suffer fewer ear infections and are less likely to suffer from gastroenteritis; they also have lower rates of SIDS. Plus, breast milk is believed to protect them against hypertension, diabetes and obesity later in life – and new research also underlines its protective effect against cardiovascular disease, linking it with a lower body mass index and higher levels of ‘good’ cholesterol. It helps new mothers lose pregnancy weight and lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, and diabetes.

Unfortunately many women run into problems with nursing and switch their babies to formula, despite the fact that difficulties with breastfeeding are often linked to technique and can usually be easily overcome with the advice of a lactation consultant.

 

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