| It is a sad fact that many of our nation's hospitals | | | | mothers as well, such as protecting them from |
| and birth centers are neglecting to provide | | | | ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and rheumatoid |
| adequate breastfeeding instruction and support | | | | arthritis. |
| for new mothers. The American Academy of | | | | After giving birth, hospitals should be responsible |
| Pediatrics and the American College of | | | | for guiding new mothers to breastfeeding, but not |
| Obstetricians suggest that after birth, new | | | | all hospitals are fulfilling this function. The results |
| mothers should breastfeed their infants | | | | from the CDC survey looked at maternity |
| exclusively for the first six months of their life | | | | practices in seven areas involving the care of |
| and continue to do so with baby food as a | | | | women who chose to breastfeed their infants. |
| supplement until at least their first birthday. | | | | The responses from this survey were rated on a |
| However, a survey conducted by the U.S. | | | | scale of 0 to 100 points, with approximately 2,700 |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | | | | U.S. maternity hospital and birth centers |
| showed that while health experts encourage | | | | participating in the survey. |
| women to breastfeed their infants, hospitals do | | | | The overall score for hospitals was 63 for key |
| not appear to help when it comes to promoting | | | | maternity practices in infant care and nutrition, |
| breastfeeding among new mothers. | | | | such as offering assistance with breastfeeding, |
| Human milk is said to be the best food for | | | | helping mothers establish contact with their |
| newborns because it is filled with nutrients and | | | | infants, offering support for breastfeeding after |
| antibodies that encourage healthy development | | | | the mothers have been discharged from the |
| and protects against infection after babies are | | | | hospital, or having trained personnel who could |
| born. Studies have been conducted which showed | | | | teach the new mothers how to breastfeed. The |
| that children that are fed formula have increased | | | | highest score of all of the hospitals was a 98, |
| risks of ear and respiratory infections, diabetes, | | | | while the lowest score was a 12. The CDC did not |
| obesity, and even cancer. Studies have also | | | | reveal the individual scores for the hospitals, |
| shown that breastfeeding has benefits for the | | | | however. |