A Healthy Pregnancy

Healthy Communities Breastfeed Babies

Last week the NIH released their ranking of the healthiest and unhealthiest states at America's Health Rankings. Obesity levels do play a role in ranking, but other measures of nutrition are not specifically addressed in the ranking. Does nutrition make a difference in the health of the state? It does to babies! If you compare the NIH ranking with the CDC's breastfeeding report card, higher breastfeeding rates are definitely associated with healthier communities.

Of the top 10 healthiest states, all except one (Connecticut) have met or exceeded Healthy People 2010 goals for initiating breastfeeding. Many of the states met or exceeded goals for continued breastfeeding at six months and one year.

Of the bottom ten ranked states, only Nevada met the goal for initiating breastfeeding. None of the states met goals for breastfeeding at six months or one year.

These results don't prove that it is breastfeeding that makes the difference, but it is clear that high breastfeeding rates are associated with healthy living. Other research tells us that breastfeeding is best for babies and that it benefits women. Breastfeeding is definitely part of the lifestyle of the healthiest group of people.

So join the healthy crowd! Breastfeed your baby. Nourish yourself and your child.

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Breastfeeding Endorsements

The AAP Section on Breastfeeding, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Family Physicians, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund, and many other health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. Exclusive breastfeeding is when an infant is given only breastmilk (no juice, water, or formula). [http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496]

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that "breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child."

Despite these endorsements and overwhelming research that shows that breast IS best, a recent survey shows that over 70% of hospitals still send free samples of formula home with new parents. [http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/mpinc/index.htm] This practice has been condemned by the World Health Organization as it has been shown to decrease breastfeeding rates.