Breastfeeding is on the rise
Breastfeeding is on the rise across the United States, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study tracked mothers from 2000 to 2008 and found a 4 percentage point increase in the number of women choosing to breastfeed their little ones. The number of moms still breastfeeding after six months increased by nearly 10 percentage points from 35 percent in 2000 to nearly 45 percent in 2008.
The report also found the gap narrowing between African-American and white mothers. The groups were separated by 24 percentage points in 2000, but by 2008 the gap closed to 16 percentage points with an increasing number of African-American moms choosing to nurse their infants.
“Breastfeeding is good for the mother and for the infant—and the striking news here is, hundreds of thousands more babies are being breastfed than in past years, and this increase has been seen across most racial and ethnic groups,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden in a statement. “Despite these increases, many mothers who want to breastfeed are still not getting the support they need from hospitals, doctors or employers. We must redouble our efforts to support mothers who want to breastfeed.”
Health experts have long recognized the value of breastfeeding, which includes providing the infant with milk that’s rich in nutrients and antibodies that can protect them from a host of diseases in the vulnerable early months.
For more information about breastfeeding, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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