Only 1 in 4 infants is exclusively breastfed, as recommended by the time they are 6 months of age. In an effort to increase the number of breastfed babies, the CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) has committed to promoting breastfeeding rates throughout the United States by promoting optimal breastfeeding practices, with the ultimate goal of improving the public’s health. In the United States, the percentage of babies who start out breastfeeding increased from 73% in 2004 to 83% in 2019 and the percentage of births in hospitals that support breastfeeding increased from 3.8% in 2010 to 28.9% in 2021. But, we still have room for improvement! Dr. Ruth Petersen, director of CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity states, “Breastfeeding provides unmatched health benefits for babies and mothers. It is the clinical gold standard for infant feeding and nutrition, with breast milk uniquely tailored to meet the health needs of a growing baby. We must do more to create supportive and safe environments for mothers who choose to breastfeed.”
Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants. It has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat and is more easily digested thaninfant formula. Breast milk meets all of the baby’s nutritional needs. Breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight off viruses and bacteria. Breastfeeding also lowers the baby’s risk of asthma, allergies, type 1 diabetes, and obesity. Plus, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, bouts of diarrhea and cases of sudden infant death. They also have fewer hospitalizations and trips to the doctor.
Breastfeeding also provides a number of health benefits to the mother. In addition to the many benefits for babies who are breastfed, breastfeeding can help lower a mother’s risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, ovarian cancer and breast cancer. It also helps build an emotional bond between the mother and baby.
It is important mothers receive the support they need to breastfeed their babies. This includes family and friend’s support, community support, and employer support (once mothers return to work). Dr. Jerome M. Adams, U.S. Surgeon General (2017-2021) states,” Given the importance of breastfeeding on the health of mothers and children, it is critical that we take action to support breastfeeding. Only through the support of family, communities, clinicians, healthcare systems, and employers will we be able to make breastfeeding the easy choice.”
That is why St. Therese of Lisieux is committing to support breastfeeding in our community. Please read the letter from Monsignor Kasza supporting this initiative, as we go forward.
References:
- https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/about-breastfeeding/why-it-matters.html.
- https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/breastfeeding/conditioninfo/benefits
- https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/nursing-basics, written by Rebecca Buffum Taylor, reviewed Dan Brennan, MD, on July 5, 2022.
