The Surgeon General=E2=80=99s =
Call to Action to=20
Support Breastfeeding
FACT SHEET
The Surgeon General=E2=80=99s Call to Action to =
Support=20
Breastfeeding outlines steps that can be taken to =
remove some=20
of the obstacles faced by women who want to breastfeed =
their=20
babies.
How many American women breastfeed their=20
babies?
- Three out of four mothers (75%) in the U.S. =
start out=20
breastfeeding, according to the Centers for Disease =
Control=20
and Prevention=E2=80=99s 2010 Breastfeeding Report =
Card.
- At the end of six months, breastfeeding rates =
fall to=20
43%, and only 13% of babies are exclusively =
breastfed.
- Among African-American babies, the rates are=20
significantly lower, 58% start out breastfeeding, =
and 28%=20
breastfeed at six months, with 8% exclusively =
breastfed at=20
six months.
- The Healthy People 2020 objectives for =
breastfeeding=20
are: 82% ever breastfed, 61% at 6 months, and 34% at =
1=20
year.
What are the health benefits of =
breastfeeding?
- Breastfeeding protects babies from infections =
and=20
illnesses that include diarrhea, ear infections and=20
pneumonia.
- Breastfed babies are less likely to develop =
asthma.
- Children who are breastfed for six months are =
less=20
likely to become obese.
- Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of sudden =
infant=20
death syndrome (SIDS).
- Mothers who breastfeed have a decreased risk of =
breast=20
and ovarian cancers.
What are the economic benefits of=20
breastfeeding?
- Families who follow optimal breastfeeding =
practices can=20
save between $1,200=E2=80=93$1,500 in expenditures =
on infant formula=20
in the first year alone.
- A study published last year in the journal=20
Pediatrics estimated that if 90% of U.S. =
families=20
followed guidelines to breastfeed exclusively for =
six=20
months, the U.S. would annually save $13 billion =
from=20
reduced medical and other costs.
- For both employers and employees, better infant =
health=20
means fewer health insurance claims, less employee =
time off=20
to care for sick children, and higher =
productivity.
- Mutual of Omaha found that health care costs for =
newborns are three times lower for babies whose =
mothers=20
participate in the company=E2=80=99s employee =
maternity and=20
lactation program.
What obstacles do mothers encounter when they =
attempt=20
to breastfeed?
- Lack of experience or understanding among family =
members=20
of how best to support mothers and babies.
- Not enough opportunities to communicate with =
other=20
breastfeeding mothers.
- Lack of up-to-date instruction and information =
from=20
health care professionals.
- Hospital practices that make it hard to get =
started with=20
successful breastfeeding.
- Lack of accommodation to breastfeed or express =
milk at=20
the workplace.
What can the health care community do?
- More hospitals can incorporate the =
recommendations of=20
UNICEF/WHO=E2=80=99s Baby-Friendly Hospital =
Initiative.
- Provide breastfeeding education for health =
clinicians=20
who care for women and children.
- Ensure access to International Board Certified =
Lactation=20
Consultants.
What can employers do?
- Start and maintain high-quality lactation =
support=20
programs for employees.
- Provide clean places for mothers to =
breastfeed.
- Work toward establishing paid maternity leave =
for=20
employed mothers.
What can community leaders do?
- Strengthen programs that provide =
mother-to-mother=20
support and peer counseling.
- Use community organizations to promote and =
support=20
breastfeeding.
What can families and friends of mothers =
do?
- Give mothers the support and encouragement they =
need to=20
breastfeed.
- Take advantage of programs to educate fathers =
and=20
grandmothers about breastfeeding.
What can policymakers do?
- Support small nonprofit organizations that =
promote=20
breastfeeding in African-American communities.
- Support compliance with the International =
Code of=20
Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.
- Increase funding of high-quality research on=20
breastfeeding.
- Support better tracking of breastfeeding rates =
as well=20
as factors that affect breastfeeding.
To order a printed copy of The Surgeon =
General=E2=80=99s Call to=20
Action to Support Breastfeeding, call =
1-800-CDC-INFO or=20
email mailto:cdcinfo@cdc.gov?sub=
ject=3DThe%20Surgeon%20General's%20Call%20to%20Action%20to%20Support%20Br=
eastfeeding=20
and reference the publication title. For a =
downloadable copy,=20
visit http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/.
Prepared January 20,=20
=
2011
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