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breastfeeding rates

IFC Comments on the April 2010 Pediatrics Article “The Burden of Suboptimal Breastfeeding in the United States: A Pediatric Cost Analysis”

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An April 2010 article published in the journal Pediatrics suggests if 90% of U.S. mothers were to exclusively breastfeed for six months, the U.S. would save $13 billion per year.1 The International Formula Council* (IFC) believes breastfeeding is ideal and offers specific child and maternal benefits.  However, we believe this study’s economic analysis misrepresents the data and fails to take into account certain factors, such as costs associated with breastfeeding at work.  

Breastfeeding Rates in the U.S.

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The infant formula industry agrees with the AAP and other leading medical organizations that breast milk is the ideal form of infant nutrition. The infant formula industry supports breastfeeding as the gold standard of infant nutrition and strongly supports the positive, accurate promotion of breastfeeding. We are pleased that, through a concerted effort by the health community, government and industry, breastfeeding rates in the United States have hit their highest mark in 20 years.

Breastfeeding Rates Affected by Work

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The Effect of Employment Status on Breastfeeding in the United States

Research reported in the August 2006 edition of Women’s Health Issues indicates that women who are employed full-time are significantly less likely to initiate breastfeeding or to breastfeed their infants at all.  Researchers based their conclusions on data examining the relationship between employment status and a mother’s decision to brea

Lactation Support Important

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Improving rates of exclusive breastfeeding may be linked to education

A 2007 study published in the British Medical Journal, found that antenatal (prior to birth) breastfeeding education and postnatal (after birth) lactation support both significantly increased the rates of exclusive breastfeeding up to six months after delivery.  In this study, 450 healthy pregnant women in Singapore were randomized into one of three groups: a control group receiving routine care, an antenatal group receiving one breastfeeding educa

Breastfeeding Legislation Increases Rates

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Study Shows Association, but not Causation, between Breastfeeding Rates and Legislation in the United States

A study published in the October 2008 edition of the American Journal of Public Health found state variations in breastfeeding initiation and duration, where western and northwestern states had the highest rates. Additionally, researchers found that breastfeeding initiation rates were highest in states with multiple pieces of legislation supportive of breastfeeding and lowest among states with no such legislation.

Is Breast Really Best

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Is Breast Really Best?  A critical analysis of Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign

A critical analysis of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Ad Council’s National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaigns (NBAC) was published in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law by Joan Wolf, Ph.D.

Breastfeeding Rates and Gift Packs

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A Critical Evaluation of a Recent Study on the Impact of Commercial Hospital Discharge Packs on Breastfeeding

A recent study, “Infant Formula Marketing Through Hospitals: the Impact of Commercial Hospital Discharge Packs on Breastfeeding” was published in the American Journal of Public Health in the February 2008 edition.1 In this study, the authors examined data from the 2000 and 2001 Oregon Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), a population-based survey of postpartum women (n=3895), to determine the relatio