New CDC Study Finds Gaps in Breastfeeding Support in U.S. Hospitals and 
Birth Centers
Many birth facilities in the United States are not providing maternity 
care that is fully supportive of breastfeeding, according to a study in 
today?s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWR), a publication of 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Research has shown that what happens in the hospital or birth center plays 
a crucial role in establishing breastfeeding and helping mothers to 
continue breastfeeding after leaving the birth facility.
The study, ?Breastfeeding-Related Maternity Care Practices among Hospitals 
and Birth Centers ? United States, 2007,? analyzed responses from nearly 
2,700 birth facilities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 
Puerto Rico. It asked birth facilities about their practices and policies 
in caring for women who choose to breastfeed their newborns. The practices 
were scored on a scale from 0 to 100 points.
The study found that hospitals and birth centers in many southern states 
scored lower in practices supportive of breastfeeding compared to other 
regions of the nation, with average total maternity practice scores 
ranging from 48 to 58. Seven southern states ? Alabama, Arkansas, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and West Virginia ? also had 
the lowest percentages (less than 30 percent) of children who were 
breastfed for 6 months, according to the 2006 National Immunization 
Survey.
Western and New England states generally had higher scores compared to 
other parts of the country. Vermont and New Hampshire tied for the highest 
overall maternity practice scores (81), followed by Maine (77) and Oregon 
(74). In addition, Oregon, Maine and Vermont report that more than 75 
percent of children were ever breastfed.
The study reported scores related to seven aspects of maternity care. 
Nationally, the average facility score was 63 for key maternity practices 
in infant nutrition and care.
Out of a possible 100 points, the national scores were: labor and 
delivery, 60; breastfeeding assistance, 80; mother-newborn contact, 70; 
postpartum feeding, 77; breastfeeding support after hospital discharge, 
40; nurse/birth attendant breastfeeding training and education, 51; and 
structural and organizational quality, 66. The study also found that mean 
total scores combining all seven categories of practice varied 
significantly among states ? ranging from a score of 48 in Arkansas to 81 
in both New Hampshire and Vermont.
?These findings underscore the importance of improving the way hospitals 
and birth centers provide assistance, encouragement and support for 
breastfeeding,? said Laurence Grummer-Strawn, Ph.D., chief of the 
nutrition branch in CDC?s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and 
Obesity. ?We have a great deal of work to do to accomplish our national 
objectives related to breastfeeding, and birth facilities can make a huge 
contribution to this effort.?
National Healthy People 2010 objectives call for 75 percent of new mothers 
to initiate breastfeeding, 50 percent to continue for six months, and 25 
percent to continue for one year. In addition, the national objectives 
have a goal for 40 percent of mothers to breastfeed exclusively for three 
months, and 17 percent of women to breastfeed exclusively for six months.
Studies show that both babies and mothers gain many benefits from 
breastfeeding. Breast milk contains antibodies that can protect infants 
from bacterial and viral infections. Breastfed babies are also less likely 
to become overweight compared to formula-fed babies. Research also 
indicates that women who breastfeed may have lower rates of diabetes and 
breast or ovarian cancers than women who don?t breastfeed.
For general information about breastfeeding, visit 
www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding. 
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Liz Maseth RN, IBCLC
Outpatient Lactation Services
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Akron Children's Hospital
(330) 543-4531
Fax (330) 543-4508
Pager (330) 914-0096
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