Breastfeeding rates hit a 20 year high.

New data from the CDC shows that breastfeeding initiation rates hit a 20 year high of 77% in 2006.  And there were especially big gains for African American women.  The Associated Press reports:

About 77 percent of new mothers breast-feed, at least briefly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

"It looks like it is an all-time high" based on CDC surveys since the mid-1980s, said Jeff Lancashire, a CDC spokesman...

The percentage of black infants who were ever breast-fed rose most dramatically, to 65 percent. Only 36 percent were ever breast-fed in 1993-1994, the new study found.

For whites, the figure rose to 79 percent, from 62 percent. For Mexican-Americans, it increased to 80 percent, from 67 percent...

The latest CDC report found rates of breast-feeding were also lowest among women who are unmarried, poor, rural, younger than 20, and have a high school education or less.

I should note here that these statistics show an increase in the number of women who initiate breastfeeding.  Sustaining breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding, is a different story.  But any upward trend is something to celebrate, right?

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Comments

[Dave]

Congratulations, mommas!

And let's remember, these numbers are IN SPITE of very aggressive marketing efforts by the formula companies---formula bags, formula calendars in the pediatrician's office, treating doctors and nurses to lunch, etc. Oh, and how about last year when the Dept of HHS was pressured to downplay a report documenting the health benefits of nursing.

I think that these numbers are remarkable!

[Maria]

Baby steps result in big changes. It takes time to undo the negativity and encourage everyone to breastfeed. Hopefully the exclusive and long-term rates will follow as more and more mothers/babies start out nursing.

[Katrina]

I don't really get why these studies always show that poorer women breastfeed less often. Why buy formula when you can breastfeed for free? Saves so much money!

[jane]

Poor women get the shaft in everything right? They don't get the educational resources that teach them breastfeeding benefits, when they do breastfeed and work, do not typical have the type of job to pump when they are aware from their babies. Even with my work struggles to find a place to pump, deal with people's derogatory comments, it must have been so much easier than what a lot of other moms go through.