Baby Development – CDC Report Finds Hospital Do Not Do Enough to Promote Breastfeeding

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

More and more research is proving the just how beneficial breastfeeding is for both mother and baby.  Yet it seems that little is being done to promote the practice of breastfeeding, which has also been shown in previous studies.  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) just released the first ever hospital assessment on just how much birthing facilities are recommending new mothers breastfeed. 

 The survey found, upon observation of hospitals and birthing centers across the country, that the majority were breastfeeding “unfriendly”.  Breastfeeding is something the CDC openly endorses stating it provides optimal infant nutrition by reducing the risk of infant and maternal morbidity. A CDC spokesperson said the survey results are “disappointing” and hopes it demonstrates the need to improve the way hospitals promote and support breastfeeding.

Published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the study analyzes 2007 survey responses from 2,690 hospitals and birthing centers.  Each facility was given a score from 0 to 100, with the average score being 63.  New England and West Coast states ranked higher while Vermont and New Hampshire topped the list.  The Southern states did the poorest with Arkansas coming in last.

The study also gave scores on 7 different aspects of maternity care including breastfeeding assistance and support, postpartum feeding, and organizational structure.  The scores for individual locations have not been released yet, but will be given to the hospitals and birthing centers next month as well as to local health departments.

Not only did the study find hospitals and birthing centers did not promote breastfeeding, the CDC found that many actually engage in practices that interfere with successful breastfeeding.  These practices include giving pacifiers, limiting suckling duration, and providing new mothers with infant formula gift bags- as many as 70% .  In addition, one quarter of hospitals reported giving formula or supplemental feeding to more than half of the healthy, full-term infants.  According to Baby Friendly USA, it is not that hospitals purposely shun breastfeeding; it is just that the formula industry has deep roots in hospital settings.