Breast-Feeding Support Lacking at Many Hospitals, Birth Centers

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"These findings underscore the importance of improving the way hospitals and birth centers provide assistance, encouragement and support for breast-feeding," Laurence Grummer-Strawn, chief of the nutrition branch in CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, said in a prepared statement. "We have a great deal of work to do to accomplish our national objectives related to breast-feeding, and birth facilities can make a huge contribution to this effort."

According to the CDC, the benefits of breast-feeding for both babies and mothers include the facts that: breast milk contains antibodies that can protect infants from bacterial and viral infections; breastfed babies are less likely to become overweight compared to formula-fed babies; and research shows women who breastfeed may have lower rates of diabetes and breast or ovarian cancers than women who don't.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has more about breast-feeding.