Hospitals Get Failing Grade on Breastfeeding Support

It is a sad fact that many of our nation's hospitals and birth centers are neglecting to provide adequate breastfeeding instruction and support for new mothers. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians suggest that after birth, new mothers should breastfeed their infants exclusively for the first six months of their life and continue to do so with baby food as a supplement until at least their first birthday. However, a survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that while health experts encourage women to breastfeed their infants, hospitals do not appear to help when it comes to promoting breastfeeding among new mothers.