Over the past year, maternal health issues have received national attention due to multiple investigative reports on increasing maternal mortality rates in the U.S. Celebrity pregnancy health scares, the emergence of promising technology in the prenatal and neonatal stages, and the stark increase in the number of pregnant women addicted to opioids have contributed to yet more news coverage. With continued medical advances, it can be easy to forget one of the most basic activities that can support the health of moms and babies — breastfeeding.
Since the 1970s, a range of federal and state initiatives have supported breastfeeding including the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC), Food and Nutrition Service. Even with decades of public health messaging and repeated research findings, education is still necessary. In 2015, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that breastfeeding rates ranged from 63% to 93% at the state level. Research shows that breastfeeding is linked to fewer infant infections, a reduction in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and higher IQ scores. The gap in rates demonstrates where we are incurring health-care costs and highlights the need for continued public education to improve infant health. Moreover, we should work towards removing barriers to breastfeeding, while encouraging programs designed to fit the specific needs of varying demographics and communities.
