17.2: Breastfeeding

The choice to breastfeed is one that all new mothers face. Support from family members, friends, employers, and others can significantly help with both the decision-making process during pregnancy and the practice of breastfeeding after the baby’s birth. In the United States, about 75 percent of babies start out being breastfed. Yet by the age of six months, when solid foods should begin to be introduced into a child’s diet along with breast milk, only 15 percent of infants in the United States were still breastfed exclusively, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Education about breastfeeding typically begins with healthcare providers. During prenatal care and soon after a woman has given birth, doctors, nurses, and other clinicians can explain the benefits of breastfeeding and describe the proper technique. Nearly all births in the United States and Canada occur in hospital settings. Hospital practices in labor, delivery, postpartum care, and discharge planning can inform and support women who breastfeed. Once a new mother has left the hospital for home, she needs access to a trained individual who can provide consistent information. International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are healthcare professionals (often registered nurse or registered dietitian) certified in breastfeeding management that works with new mothers to solve problems and educate families about the benefits of this practice. Research shows that breastfeeding rates are higher among women who had infants in hospitals that make IBCLCs available to new mothers, rather than those who gave birth in institutions without these professionals on staff.

Besides, spouses, partners, and other family members can play critical roles in helping a pregnant woman decide to breastfeed and assist with feeding after the baby is born. Employment can also factor into a woman’s decision to breastfeed or her ability to maintain the practice. Employed mothers have been less likely to initiate breastfeeding. They tend to breastfeed for a shorter time than new mothers who are not employed or have lengthy maternity leaves. In 2010 in the United States, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passage called for employers to provide accommodations within the workplace for new mothers to pump breast milk. This law requires a private and clean space within the workplace, other than a restroom, along with adequate break time for a woman to express milk.

Members of a community can also promote and support breastfeeding. New mothers can join peer counseling groups or turn to other women within their community who have previous breastfeeding experience. Besides, community-based programs can provide education and support. The US Department of Agriculture’s Women, Infants, and Children program provides information on breastfeeding for low-income families. Launched in 2004, the Loving Support program combines peer counseling with breastfeeding promotion efforts to increase duration rates across the United States. La Leche League is an international program that provides mother-to-mother support, encouragement, and breastfeeding education worldwide.

Although breastfeeding should be recommended and encouraged for almost all new mothers, it is essential to remember that breastfeeding is a personal choice. Women should not be made to feel guilty if they cannot or choose not, to breastfeed their infants. A woman cannot breastfeed or is not in the baby’s best interest in rare cases. Parents’ Nutritional choices, such as breastfeed or bottle-feeding, affect early childhood development and a child’s health and wellness later in life. Therefore, it is imperative to promote and support the best practices for infants’ and mothers’ well-being.

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