CDC: Increase In 'Baby Friendly' Hospitals That Promote Breastfeeding

Hospitals across the United States are doing better when it comes to encouraging mothers to breastfeed, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In the latest Breastfeeding Report Card, the CDC said that there has been significant increase of hospitals that push for breastfeeding since it was recommended in 2007. From 29 percent in the said year, the number of hospitals has increased to 54 percent, as stated in the report from Health Day.

Hospitals have also been more proactive in teaching the mothers on how to properly hold their baby and express their milk while feeding, particularly in the first few hours of birth, or encouraging mothers to feed the baby whenever she's hungry, instead of following a set schedule.

But while this is good news and there has been significant improvement, the CDC said that their work is not yet done. They hope to continue to push the Ten Steps Program established by the World Health Organization, which is currently only in effect in 14 percent of the hospitals.

"Every one of the Ten Steps is important to use in a hospital to give babies the best start, to help mothers start and continue to breast-feed as recommended," CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden told the media. "Ideally, we would like every birth hospital in this country to adopt all of the Ten Steps and become 'baby-friendly.'"

According to NPR, the CDC surveyed about 80 percent of birthing centers in the country to see if they have properly implemented the steps. In their studies, the CDC learned there are still 75 percent of hospitals that offer formula milk to babies during their first days, especially when the mother isn't able to breastfeed. The agency also found out that only a third of hospitals refer mothers to breastfeeding support groups and lactation consultants long after they have left the hospital. The referrals are crucial because some mothers do have a hard time with breastfeeding during the first few weeks and tend to give up if they do not have any support.

The hospitals also fail to emphasize the importance of breastfeeding long term, specifically when it also prevent ovarian and breast cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

However, head researcher Cria Perrine is optimistic that the CDC can improve on this, citing the case of Georgia, which had no baby-friendly hospitals before. Today, they are four hospitals catering to breastfeeding in Georgia, according to Health Day.  "As a mom who gave birth to a baby a year and a half ago in the state of Georgia, this is very exciting to me," said Perrine.