First Lady Michelle Obama will be working to reduce barriers to breastfeeding by, among other things, encouraging more hospitals to become Baby Friendly. This is part of her initiative to reduce childhood obesity, Let's Move.
Politics Daily reports:
Looking ahead to what she will do in the second year of "Let's Move," Mrs. Obama said: "We also want to focus on the important touch points in a child's life. And what we're learning now is that early intervention is key. Breastfeeding. Kids who are breastfed longer have a lower tendency to be obese.
...Robin Schepper, executive director of "Let's Move," told Politics Daily, Mrs. Obama wants to increase breastfeeding rates but "is not telling women to breastfeed ... but wants to make it easier for moms by encouraging hospitals to change practices so after a baby is born, the baby is in the room with them."
Toward that goal, Mrs. Obama is going to push more hospitals to be certified as "Baby Friendly" by Baby Friendly USA, a non-governmental organization that works with the United Nations Children's Fund, or UNICEF, to increase breastfeeding opportunities. Only 3 percent of births occur at U.S. hospitals with the "Baby Friendly" designation."
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to email updates and RSS feeds. Subscribe to our podcasts on iTunes.
