In response to the question about national breastfeeding rates:

There is a summary of breastfeeding rate trends in the Book
"Nutrition During Lactation,"  (Institute of Medicine, National
Academy Press, 1991)  The only organization collecting National
breastfeeding rates that I know of is Ross Laboratories.  They will
often provide information by State (and even region within a state).
According to the Ross  data US breastfeeding rates were 57.4% in hospital,
21.3% at 5 -6  months of age in 1994.  (Sample size 283,179).

Mary Johnson

Mary Johnson


Date:          Mon, 7 Oct 1996 08:29:01 -0600
From:          Susan Horein <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:       statistics on bf rates

I am an LLL Leader in Madison Wisconsin.  I also occasionally respond to
email questions about breastfeeding that are posted to the "LLLI Help Form"
on the wwweb.  Here is one I'd appreciate help with, as my resources as a
volunteer are limited (it seems like a simple request, but I haven't been
successful in finding an answer for her):

>Having breastfed three babies, I am both personally and
>professionally interested in promoting breastfeeding to college students
>througth my women's health class. Can anyone help me access statistics
>regarding the % of American women who breastfeed their babies?  I am
>interested also in state by state data if it is available. Any help would
>be appreciated.

Would appreciate responses to [log in to unmask] (as well as posting if
it's relevant to all).  Thanks to all just for being here!!!

 Susan Horein, [log in to unmask]



Mary Johnson
WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator
Minnesota WIC Program
Minnesota Department of Health
717 Delaware Street SE
Minneapolis, MN  55440-9441
Phone:  612-623-5400
FAX:    612-623-5445
internet:  [log in to unmask]