CDC Says Hospitals Need to Do Better On Breastfeeding

World Breastfeeding Week is coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean we have to stop thinking about this important topic. In fact, a report issued from the CDC is proving that this issue still needs far more attention than its getting, by highlighting the alarming lag in hospital-provided promotion of breastfeeding.

The report analyzed the results of a 2009 survey that included over 2,700 obstetric hospitals and birthing centers. The data showed that only 3.5 percent of hospitals scored a 9 out of 10 or higher for the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” program, which was devised by the World Health Organization and UNICEF.

The steps are important for new moms because they help mothers tackle difficult breastfeeding issues, like getting the baby to latch on and making sure the baby is breastfed within the first hour after birth. The steps help provide the best possible chance for mothers to successfully breastfeed.

According to the report, 80 percent of women indicated they planned to breastfeed their babies, and 75 percent of the women followed through – but alarmingly, by the end of the first week, half of the new moms had already turned to formula for their babies and only 31 percent managed to breastfeed up to 9 months or more.

CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D. believes these numbers are not acceptable. “Those first few hours and days that a mom and her baby spend learning to breast-feed are critical," he said. "Hospitals need to better support breast-feeding, as this is one of the most important things a mother can do for her newborn.  Breast-feeding helps babies grow up healthy and reduces health care costs.”

Just a few of the suggestions the CDC has for hospitals include encouraging mothers to stay with their babies 24 hours a day in their early lives; avoiding formula and other food and drink unless there is a medical reason for it; stopping formula give-aways and free samples to breastfeeding mothers; and helping new moms connect with resources and support groups after they leave the hospital.

Those all sound like great suggestions. Moms out there, are there any others you would add?