Breastfeeding | HealthInfi

Overview

Breastfeeding is one of the best ways to ensure your baby’s health and development. It’s a convenient, cost-effective, natural way to feed your baby.

Breastfeeding is widely recommended as the best way of feeding infants by leading health organizations, including, among others:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics
• The American Academy of Family Physicians
• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• The American Dietetic Association
• The American College of Nurse-Midwives
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health

Healthy mothers should consider breastfeeding exclusively (no formula) for the first six months of life and, if possible, continue until the baby is one year old and beyond. Ideally, solid foods should only be introduced after six months of age.

While most new mothers breastfeed in the weeks following birth (called the early postpartum period), less than 15 percent continue to nurse exclusively through six months. The likelihood of breastfeeding is even lower among African-American women, as well as women with lower levels of education.

Initiatives to educate new mothers and their partners, health care professionals and employers about the clear, long-lasting health benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby are ongoing. Changes to routine maternity unit practices, including “rooming in” policies, which allow mom and baby to stay together in the hospital, are increasingly common and help support mothers who wish to breastfeed. Healthy People 2020, a national prevention initiative to improve the health of all Americans, set forth goals to increase breastfeeding rates.Read More