�North Carolina infants ar breastfed at a pace below the national ordinary, placing them at greater risk of developing wellness problems later on in lifespan, according to CDC's Breast Feeding Report Card for 2008, the Raleigh News & Observer reports. About 66% of women in the state breastfeed their infants, compared to the national medium of 74%, the written report shows.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children receive only breastmilk for six months after giving birth. Miriam Labbok, a public health prof at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, said, "Those behaviors have real semipermanent health impacts." Just nine percent of six-month-old infants in the state are exclusively breastfed, placing North Carolina in the bottom of the inning 20 states, according to CDC. The News & Observer reports that many women fight to give suck properly. Labbok said there is good news excessively, including interest from state officials to improve breastfeeding rates in North Carolina. She added, "We're at a tipping point." According to the News & Observer, research shows that breastfeeding tin can lower the risk of some kinds of cancers and infections in both mothers and children. Lack of breastfeeding also has been linked to higher rates of infant mortality rate, obesity and diabetes. The federal authorities calculated in 2001 that $3.6 billion could be saved on health care spending annually if breastfeeding rates increased. Some breastfeeding advocates said society and health care professionals need to do more to facilitate breastfeeding.
Some advocates consume criticized hospitals for giving women promotional bags provided by baby formula companies. Some studies have shown that women who extradite at hospitals that give out the bags leave office breastfeeding sooner. The NC Breastfeeding Coalition on Wednesday gave awards to deuce Chapel Hill, N.C., health facilities for not distributing the giving bags. Marisa Salcines, a spokesperson for the International Formula Council, said some research has shown that the bags have no impact on breastfeeding rates, adding that women should be "trusted" to reach the topper decision for themselves and their infants.
Other advocates said that a larger concern is the conditions provided for working mothers. Selena Childs -- director of the N.C. Child Fatality Task Force, a state commissioned legislative study mathematical group -- said, "Our overall goal is to create a more friendly reality for women to be able to breastfeed" (Lindenfeld Hall, Raleigh News & Observer, 8/7).
Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You canful view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of process of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
� 2008 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
More info
