Report Shows Largest 1-Year Increase in Nursing Rates in 10 Years
The health benefits of breastfeeding are widely
publicized, and it seems that this message is gaining traction.
A new breastfeeding
report card from the CDC shows that more new moms in the U.S. are choosing to
breastfeed their babies.
Just shy of 77% of moms started breastfeeding in 2009, up
from 74.6% in 2008. This is the largest one-year increase in breastfeeding
rates in 10 years.
The number of women who were still breastfeeding at six
months increased from 44.3% in 2008 to 47.2% in 2009. And the number of mothers
breastfeeding at 12 months out was also on the rise.
The new study provides the most recent data available, but
preliminary reports suggest that the breastfeeding rate continues to rise.
Part of the reason for the increase may be improved
support for breastfeeding moms at hospitals. More babies are also being born at
"baby-friendly hospitals" that help moms meet their breastfeeding
goals.
Breastfeeding can help reduce an infant's risk of ear
infections, diarrhea, allergies, obesity, and diabetes. For the mother,
breastfeeding helps shed pregnancy weight and may lower her risk of developing
breast or ovarian cancer. These are some of the reasons why the American
Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed for about
the first six months of life.
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