Breastfeeding Tips & Facts: Women More Likely To Exclusively Breastfeed If They're From Wealthier Backgrounds

Mothers who belong to low poverty neighborhoods are more likely to exclusively breastfeed their babies early on in life.

According to YourTango, a recent report from the Department of Health shows that mothers who live in wealthier neighborhoods (compared to others) are more likely to exclusively (pure breastmilk, without formulas) breastfeed their babies during the first five days of life.

The report says that in 2011, 89 percent of New York City mothers initiated breastfeeding. However, only 32 percent of babies were breastfed during the first five days of life.

The percentage of babies breastfed during the first five days vary over neighborhoods. Some exceed 50 percent, while some are low.

Mothers who lived in low poverty neighborhoods were 1.6 times more likely to exclusively breastfeed their babies (41 percent vs. 25 percent), compared to mothers from high poverty neighborhoods.

Considering racial/ethnic backgrounds, non-Hispanic White mothers were found to be more likely to breastfeed their babies compared with Asian/Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic Black mothers. (44 perecent vs. 24 percent, 26 percent and 27 percent, respectively).

The report also shows that breastfeeding varies by maternal characteristics:

Eight weeks after the baby was born, it is recorded that 69 percent of mothers were engaged in some (not exclusive) breastfeeding, while only 26 percent were exclusively breastfeeding. Non-Hispanic White mothers still breastfeed more than other races.

Considering education, mothers who graduated from college had higher breastfeeding rates compared to those who had less than high school education (31 percent vs. 23 percent exclusive breastfeeding; 80 percent vs. 60 percent some breastfeeding).

It was also found that few mothers are breastfeeding after six months:

For every 100 NYC mothers, 58 breastfed for six months, 14 of which breastfed exclusively. For every 100 NYC low-income mothers receiving WIC (Women, Infants and Children), a national supplemental program for low-income moms, only 38 breastfed for at least six months—five of which breastfed exclusively.

Breastfeeding has a lot of known benefits. According to the babycenter, such beneifts are well-documented, and cover a lot of aspects:

• It protects babies from a long list of illnesses, and from developing allergies;
• It may help boost a child's intelligence;
• It may protect kids from obesity, and may reduce the risks of SIDS.

Breastfed babies also have less problems with stomach viruses, lower respiratory illnesses, ear infections, and meningitis. If ever these do occur, they are less severe when compared to babies who are not breastfed.

Breastfeeding mothers also get benefits from breastfeeding: lowered stress levels, lower risks of postpartum depression, and also, lowered risks of cancer.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months, and may continue until the child reaches one year or older.