CDC study: 42% of moms quit breastfeeding in first month

Breastfeeding rates continue to be abysmal in the U.S., according to the CDC. Photo via freedigitalphotos.net

A recent CDC study suggests as many as 1/2 of  new mothers are giving up on breastfeeding in the first few months of their baby’s life. Even more alarming, as many as 42% of mothers who initiate breastfeeding quit within the first month. Almost 1/3 of new mothers in a  hospital setting wound up giving up their nursing relationship by the time they left the hospital to bring their baby home.

The lead researcher and author of the study, Cria Perrine, an epidemiologist in the CDC’s Division of Nutrition told MSNBC that the study reflected an absence of community and social support for women who want to make breastfeeding work. While the study included around 1,500 new mothers from 2005 – 2007, adjusting for most confounding factors, the good news is — breastfeeding rates have continued to rise since the study was conducted. Last year, there was a 4% increase in breastfeeding rates in baby’s first year among U.S. mothers.

Perrine cited six significant factors in hospital’s undermining breastfeeding efforts:

1. Whether or not an infant is allowed to sleep in the same room as the mother
2. Formula supplementation
3. Pacifiers
4. Breastfeeding within an hour of birth
5. Access to breastfeeding resources
6. Breastfeeding on demand

The CDC reported that nearly 90% of hospitals routinely give formula to breastfeeding neonates.

Perrine says she believes that formula supplementation may be a case of nurses meaning well, but unintentionally undermining breastfeeding efforts. Perrine said, “I think it could be the weight issue. I think some nurses say let the mother sleep. It comes from a place of good intentions, but not everyone realizes how detrimental it can be to establishing breastfeeding.”

Both the WHO and AAP recommend that babies be exclusively breastfeed for at least 6 months.

Source: MSNBC