I'm more of a qualitative researcher - but we've been looking at our local
breastfeeding stats for years. Last year we had a big drop in initiation in
our WIC population - although our initiation rate here in the hospital did
drop as well, from 90% to 88%. The WIC drop seemed to be because someone at
the WIC office changed the way a question was asked. I am not dissing our
WIC office, they are wonderful people. Budget cuts made big changes in
office staff and duties.

Pat (Young, down the road from me in NJ!) - I would say that we MUST give
those initiation rates by INTENTION. Otherwise we're not listening to what
mothers are saying, which as I see it is --
1) I've gotten the message that breastfeeding is best for my baby and I want
to do it
2) There's a problem here - ! (Whether that's supplementation by mom's
choice, provider's choice, error or spite or whatever)

We're at the beginning of a feeding survey which is already yielding some
interesting info....I'm hoping our duration rates will be even better,
especially since so far most of the moms in our survey state that they hope
to breastfeed a year or longer! (I love Vermont.)

Dawn Kersula MA,RN, IBCLC
Vermont USA (highest one year breastfeeding rates on those CDC charts....)

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