Massachusetts Breastfeeding Initiative

"The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recently published a report of the effects of breastfeeding on infant and maternal health outcomes based on a review of nearly 500 studies. The authors confirmed that breastfeeding is associated with an infant’s reduction in risk of acute otitis media, non-specific gastroenteritis, severe lower respiratory tract infections, necrotizing enterocolitis and SIDS. The review of the literature also demonstrates that the lack of breastfeeding and early formula feeding contribute to the rising incidence of chronic diseases in childhood and adolescence, including type I and type II diabetes, asthma, atopic dermatitis, childhood leukemia and overweight. For maternal outcomes, a history of lactation was associated with a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer as well as type II diabetes.


In order to achieve many of these health benefits, breastfeeding must be the primary method of feeding during the first year of life. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed (i.e., fed only breastmilk) for the first 6 months, and continue to be breastfed, with the addition of other appropriate foods, until at least one year of age.

In Massachusetts, the percentage of mothers who report their intention to breastfeed at the time of hospital discharge (79.3% in 2005) meets the Healthy People 2010 goal for breastfeeding initiation. However, many of these mothers stop breastfeeding in the early weeks following their baby’s birth, and by 6 months, less than half of all mothers report they are still nursing."
 
Take a moment and read the full initiative plan here.  Know hospital staff should be supporting your decision to breastfeed, if you so choose to do so. 
 
Guidelines for Breastfeeding Initiation and Support
Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition, Rev. 2008