Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search


Español  Other Languages


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
 ×
				Submit


Vital Signs


Section Navigation
			
			CDC Home








****
						Hospital Actions Affect BreastfeedingHospital Actions Affect Breastfeeding
						Updated Oct. 6, 2015
																		Español (Spanish)
																	Print
																Related Pages
										On This Page
			OverviewProblemInfographicsWhat Can Be DoneIssue Details
		
Overview
Hospital practices in the first hours and days after birth make the difference in whether and how long babies are breastfed. The WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is the global standard for hospital care to support breastfeeding, with the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding at its core.
The percentage of US hospitals implementing a majority of the Ten Steps increased from about 29% in 2007 to nearly 54% in 2013. However, of approximately 3,300 maternity hospitals in the US, only 289 are designated Baby-Friendly. Hospitals influence how the nearly 4 million US babies born each year are fed. Further improvement in hospital practices could increase breastfeeding rates and contribute to better child health.
Hospitals can:
Implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and work towards achieving Baby-Friendly designation.
Use CDC’s Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey customized reports to improve maternity care practices that support breastfeeding.
Work with doctors, nurses, lactation care providers, and organizations to create networks that provide clinic-based, at-home, or community breastfeeding support for mothers.Top of PageMother and child**80%** of babies born in the US start out breastfeeding.
**6 in 10** breastfeeding mothers stop breastfeeding earlier than they intend.
**14%** of US babies are born in hospitals designated Baby-Friendly.ProblemPractices in many US hospitals do not fully support breastfeeding.
Some of the Ten Steps on which hospitals fell shortest in 2013 included:
Just 26% of hospitals had a model breastfeeding policy (Step 1).
Only 26% of hospitals did not routinely feed formula to healthy, breastfed infants when there was no medical reason to do so (Step 6).
Less than half (45%) of hospitals kept mothers and babies together throughout the entire hospital stay, which provides opportunities to breastfeed and helps mothers learn feeding cues (Step 7).
Just 32% of hospitals provided enough support for breastfeeding mothers when they left the hospital (Step 10).Not enough babies are breastfeeding as recommended:
Only 22% of babies are exclusively breastfed for 6 months as recommended.
Only 29% are breastfed for 12 months as recommended.
Babies who are breastfed have reduced risks of ear and respiratory infections, asthma, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), diabetes, and obesity.Graphic: Percentage of babies breastfeeding during the first year. Click to view larger image and text description.View LargerCloseGraphic: Percentage of babies breastfeeding during the first year. Click to view larger image and text description.Download Image[JPG]
View large image and text description
Top of PageInfographicInfographic: However...hospitals are making progress on the Ten Steps. Click to view larger image and text description.
View larger image and text description
Top of PageWhat Can Be DoneThe Federal government is
Helping hospitals become designated as Baby-Friendly through funding and technical assistance.
Supporting state health departments to help hospitals improve maternity care practices.
Tracking hospital policies and practices that support breastfeeding using CDC’s Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey to evaluate federal, state and local efforts.
Making breastfeeding counseling and supplies available to families with no out-of-pocket cost through a health insurance plan provision of the Affordable Care Act.States and local government can
Adopt standards for hospitals to support breastfeeding.
Help hospitals implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.
Help hospitals connect mothers to community programs for support once they leave the hospital.Hospitals can
Implement the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and work towards achieving
Baby-Friendly designation.
Use CDC’s Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey customized reports to improve maternity care practices that support breastfeeding.
Work with doctors, nurses, lactation care providers, and organizations to create networks that provide clinic-based, at-home, or community breastfeeding support for mothers.Healthcare providers can
Help write hospital policies that support mothers and babies to breastfeed.
Counsel mothers on breastfeeding during prenatal visits.
Include lactation care providers and other breastfeeding experts on patient care teams.
Support breastfeeding in the hospital and at well-baby visits.Mothers and their families can
Talk to their healthcare providers about breastfeeding plans, and ask about how to get help with breastfeeding.
Ask about breastfeeding support practices and Baby-Friendly designation when choosing a maternity hospital.
Join with other community members to encourage local hospitals to improve breastfeeding support and become Baby-Friendly.Top of PageIssue DetailsRelated PagesOther SitesScience Behind the issueRelated Pages
Vital Signs Issue details: Improvements in Maternity Care Policies and Practices That Support Breastfeeding — United States, 2007–2013, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Vital Signs – Hospital Actions Affect Breastfeeding [PODCAST – 1:15 minutes]
Vital Signs – Hospital Actions Affect Breastfeeding [PSA – 0:60 seconds]
CDC breastfeeding
CDC’s mPINC Survey
Rates of breastfeeding nationally and by state (National Immunization Survey)
DNPAO’s Data, Trends and Maps databaseOther Sites
MedlinePlus – Breastfeeding
Baby-Friendly hospitals in the US.
HHS Office of Women’s Health
Loving Support campaign
Baby-Friendly USAScience Behind the Issue
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Science Clips
							
					
							Last Updated Oct. 6, 2015														Source: 	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
					Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate homeVital Signs
Topics Covered
Digital Media Tools To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address			What's this?				Submit
 *MMWR* RSS
 VitalSigns RSS
 Download this factsheet Cdc-pdf[PDF – 1.31 MB]
en Español Cdc-pdf[PDF – 2.7 MB]
Read the MMWR
Science Clips


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue