Surgeon General Says Breast-Feeding "Alarmingly Low"

Article

Hospitals, physicians are urged to educate new parents on the benefits

WASHINGTON--A new government report is calling for increased awareness of the benefits of feeding babies breast milk, according to a recent report by the Associated Press.

The surgeon general is calling for new policies to ensure that parents are routinely told why breast-feeding is healthy, that hospitals improve teaching of techniques to help new mothers, and that workplaces become better equipped to handle breast-feeding mothers.

According to Dr. Yvonne Bronner of Morgan State University, "the culture of breast-feeding has been lost, especially in the low-income African-American community." Bronner is creating an education and peer-counseling project to counterbalance the racial disparity.

About 64% of U.S. women breast-feed during their infants' first month of life. However, Surgeon General David Satcher released a report last week stating that only 29% of all mothers and only 19% of black mothers continue to feed their babies breast milk until the infants are at least six months of age.

Studies have shown that babies fed breast-milk suffer fewer illnesses such as diarrhea, earache, pneumonia and other infections. Studies have also suggested that breast-feeding may reduce risks of asthma, diabetes, childhood cancers and can help brains develop faster. Mothers can lose pregnancy weight-gains as well, and long-term feeding may lower the risk of developing breast cancer.

Recent Videos
Pathogen Playbook Presenter: Sharon Ward-Fore, BS, MS, MT(ASCP), CIC, FAPIC
Mark Wiencek, PhD
Rebecca Crapanzano-Sigafoos, DrPH, CIC, AL-CIP, FAPIC
The CDC’s updated hospital respiratory reporting requirement has added new layers of responsibility for infection preventionists. Karen Jones, MPH, RN, CIC, FAPIC, clinical program manager at Wolters Kluwer, breaks down what it means and how IPs can adapt.
Studying for the CIC using a digital tablet and computer (Adobe Stock 335828989 by NIKCOA)
Infection Control Today's Conversations with the HSPA President, Arlene Bush, CRCST, CER, CIS, SME, DSMD, CRMST
Infection Control Today's Conversations with the HSPA President, Arlene Bush, CRCST, CER, CIS, SME, DSMD, CRMST
Cheron Rojo, BS, FCS, CHL,  CER, CFER, CRCST
Matthias Tschoerner, Dr Sc
Standardizing Cleaning and Disinfection
Related Content