77% of US babies are breastfed!
Posted on | May 14, 2008 | 13 Comments
at least once! woohoo?
CDC says breast-feeding rates hit new high of 77 percent in US (thanks Gerry, et al!)
and I appreciated Lori F’s take on it:
So we are up to 77% of all mothers in the US letting their baby take at least 1 suckle at their breast. Its an all time high (or at least since we started recording – somehow I think in 1700 or say 1500 that the number of babies suckled was oh I don’t know 99% or so?
These #s are from the CDC. They are:
‘The new report is based on a comprehensive federal survey involving in-person interviews as well as physical examinations. The findings are based on information for 434 infants from the years 2005 and 2006.”434 infants out of over 4 million born into the United States! Um, does that even include 1 infant per hospital maternity ward in the US? This number is not even remotely statistically significant. And as for in-person interviews – would that include people like my MIL who told us for over a year after our son was born she had nursed before REMEMBERING she never once put her child to her breast? Does it include the women who were planning to nurse when they got home from the hospital but were using formula until they got home? Self-reporting isn’t exactly a great method to use when we have such a wonderful ability to misremember.
Hear Hear! (let’s save the celebrating…but maybe just maybe we’re on the right track ;o)
xox,
Heather
Comments
13 Responses to “77% of US babies are breastfed!”
The Zoops!
May 14th, 2008 @ 5:09 pm
“research shows that 77% of 434 babies have a go at their mama’s boobies at least once!”
May 15th, 2008 @ 4:01 am
One of my midwives used to work in remote Africa, and she said that the breastfeeding rate where she was was around 99.9%. There just wasn’t any other option! You breastfed your baby, or it starved. If something was utterly, horribly wrong, then your friend, mom, or sister breastfed your baby for you, and you tried to work out the problem using everything you could think of. Obviously, they didn’t have access to formula, or any extra water, and everyone around them thought they should be breastfeeding. So I’d have to say they had more motivation and support than women in America. Pretty sad.
May 15th, 2008 @ 5:57 am
I have to keep it simple and say – I’m all for celebrating. Taking the breast once at least shows the mother wanted to breastfeed. This is good. And 77% is greater than 3/4… even if the study is of a small self-reporting bunch.
As a LLL Leader I mean it when I tell a mother ANY amount of breastfeeding is of value. That is the truth. Yes, we want it greater, but credit must be given where it is due!
Love,
Amy
May 15th, 2008 @ 6:24 am
I agree about giving some credit. However, it is not rocket science to conduct a better poll than this one. Ugh on the reporting here.
I worked in a WIC office as a peer counselor and breastfeeding educator for a few years. In my clinic, which was 62% non English speaking clients, our breastfeeding initiation rate was right around 90%. I was proud of that, actually. When I taught classes, I told the ladies– “In this clinic, 9 out of every 10 moms gives breastfeeding a try. If you are sure you are the 1 who is absolutely not even going to try, stand up. I’ll sign off your class and let you go get your vouchers and leave. The rest of us will learn about how to enjoy breastfeeding and why it’s so important to our babies health and our health.” No one ever left my class early.
Another time I was working the waiting room. I sat down next to a young mom who was holding a tiny newborn. I asked her how breastfeeding was going, and she admitted that they weren’t breastfeeding at all. She said they’d tried, but she could never get the baby to latch and it was too hard and and and and… I said “How is that working out for you?” She admitted that her boobs hurt SO bad and she was still leaking milk, even though she hadn’t even tried to latch the baby on in two weeks since the day of birth. “So do you think your body, your boobs, are trying to tell you something? They want to breastfeed?” She said “But how? Can I still? Really?” I took her over to the LC and she got an appointment following her voucher appointment. The LC had her latching within minutes. I saw that mom 5 months later, and her baby was still exclusively breastfed! She recognized me first, and said “Look! Look at my baby! Look how big she is! And IT IS ALL ME!!!!”
May 15th, 2008 @ 6:51 am
Well, I struggled with statistics classes so I’m not an expert, but that might be enough of a sample size to give reliable results. I know I am seeing more people around here at least trying.
I’m going to celebrate anyway just in case. As I posted on an extended BF board, we moms who do BF, and support each other (online or in person), deserve some credit for the increase (if it’s real). I’m also sure reading a Hathor comic has inspired many a mom to try or continue to BF.
May 15th, 2008 @ 8:32 am
I’m in Stats right now and I am pretty sure the study is quite valid. While 434 babies may not seem like very much, the sample size needs to be less than 10% of the population you are studying. I’m going to print the study from the CDC site and take it to my Stat Professor tonight to see what she thinks. I’ll let you all know!
May 15th, 2008 @ 8:34 am
434 babies, that is about 20 times more babies than the number Thomas Hale tested with Zoloft.
May 15th, 2008 @ 9:33 am
This whole thing is making my breasts ache. I am almost seven months pregnant with #3 and have just weaned my 22 month old from the breast. He is… how shall we put it… rather territorial about my breasts. I figured a couple months away from them would help him adjust to the upcoming “intruder.” Still… I wouldn’t mind continuing to nurse. 22 months is long enough, right? Better than the first time around with my daughter, that’s for sure!
May 15th, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
This at least represents what percentage of those interviewed **wished** they had bf, doesn’t it? That’s got to be good. Plus, anytime a parent-to-be reads that the majority of moms found a way to bf, it encourages them to try it. It normalizes bfing is what I’m saying. And that’s very good!
–Amanda
May 19th, 2008 @ 4:53 am
EXCELLENT point, Amanda!!! Even people who aren’t “herd followers” (no cow pun intended) but just aren’t quite sure what to do might be influenced by that statistic! If 77% of moms try it, maybe they will give it a shot too. Also helpful if they are trying to get a hubby on board or convince their parents, inlaws, or friends that BF isn’t just something a few weirdos do!
May 19th, 2008 @ 5:36 am
If there was any question as to which was better… here’s what else they’re putting in formula these days.. ugh!
http://cornucopia.org/index.php/replacing-mother-infant-formula-report/
May 20th, 2008 @ 3:14 pm
I printed the study from the CDC webiste to my Stats Professor and she said the study is very valid and the sample size is a representative sample size. Just thought I would share.
May 23rd, 2008 @ 6:23 pm
I’m not cleaning up the confetti lol