Heather writes:
"A colleague has sent this:

http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/pdf/2014breastfeedingreportcard.pdf

How robust is the collection of the data?

I ask, because the exclusive breastfeeding figures seem very high indeed."


I'm wondering this too. It seems high for my area. 38% exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months? Maybe, but I'm not seeing it. However, it could just be that other areas in my state are higher and maybe it's accurate. 

They get most of the data from the immunization and birth records. Also, some comes from the WIC program, I believe. That's a program to give food and formula to low income mothers of small children. 

I'm worried about the accuracy also, because recently the WIC program changed their food packages and now gives a lot more food to the breastfeeding women who are not receiving formula through the program (which is a good idea). However, I've heard that some women are beginning to figure out that this food package is worth more than the formula package. So they are stating that they are exclusively breastfeeding, taking the food and then using their food stamps to buy formula. This is going to skew the data collection. I hope that isn't what's happening and these numbers are real. We are working hard to increase them!

Tricia Shamblin, RN, IBCLC
Waukegan, Illinois


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