The Best and Worst States for Breastfeeding Moms

More mothers are starting out breastfeeding their newborns, but many abandon the effort too early, according to a new study released this week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. That's due in part to a lack of resources and support, according to the CDC's annual Breastfeeding Report Card.

Mothers should breastfeed exclusively for about the first six months to support the child's growth and development, according to guidelines by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Surgeon General's Office notes breastfeeding protects babies from infections and reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and future health issues, including asthma.

The CDC's annual survey of breastfeeding rates in each state is released during National Breastfeeding Month.

The survey notes progress across the country, with 81 percent of mothers breastfeeding at least once. That's up from less than 74 percent of mothers surveyed in 2007.

Utah had the most mothers breastfeeding at least once, at 94.4 percent — more than 10 percentage points ahead of the national average. Mississippi had the least mothers trying to breastfeed, at just 52 percent of those surveyed.

But health officials are concerned that, at six months after birth, nearly half of all mothers surveyed had stopped breastfeeding altogether. And only 22.3 percent were exclusively breastfeeding at six months, as recommended.

A dozen states have met the Department of Health and Human Service's 2020 goal of 60.6 percent of mothers still breastfeeding at six months: Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington.

Changing Minds, Practices and Policies

The CDC hopes the state-by-state Breastfeeding Report Card will encourage all involved in the child's first year to encourage mothers to breastfeed — including politicians. The report goes beyond breastfeeding rates and looked at barriers to continued nursing.

In some instances, it begins with a lack of information and support provided to the mothers and families at the hospital, according to the CDC. Other cases involve a lack of space, equipment or accommodations to properly breastfeed and pump breast milk once mom has returned home or is back at work.

“Mothers can better achieve their breastfeeding goals with active support from their families, friends, communities, clinicians, health care leaders, employers, and policymakers," said Dr. Ruth Petersen, director of the CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity.

Included in the report card, the CDC grades hospitals and other birthing facilities across the country on how they encourage breastfeeding, with states rated on the average score that these facilities received.

The eight states with birthing facilities offering the most support for breastfeeding:

1. Rhode Island

2. Delaware (tie)

2. New Hampshire (tie)

4. Vermont

5. Oregon

6. California (tie)

6. Colorado (tie)

8. Maine

And the eight states with birthing facilities offering the least support for breastfeeding:

43. South Dakota

44. Kentucky (tied)

44. North Dakota (tied)

44. West Virginia (tied)

47. Alabama (tied)

47. Tennessee (tied)

49. Nebraska

50. Mississippi

The CDC helps educate hospital staff through the "Best Fed Beginnings" program and has online resources to help individuals and entire industries support breastfeeding mothers. For its part, the U.S. Office on Women's Health offers employer solutions and "The Business Case for Breastfeeding."

Four female pilots with Frontier Airlines filed a lawsuit earlier this year. They claimed that, among other harmful policies, they weren't given accommodations for breastfeeding and pumping milk.

Public accommodations for nursing mothers often draw opinions and occasionally nasty comments from those people around nursing mothers.

Target supports breastfeeding in any area of the store, but a man lashed out at a nursing shopper in Torrington, Connecticut, in June. The mother recorded the man's rant and posted it on Facebook, noting that other shoppers and staff eventually intervened to protect her.

Several mothers staged a "nurse-in" at a Limerick, Pennsylvania, YMCA in May. The event was in solidarity with a mother who was told by staff to relocate while nursing her child, reportedly because she was making "men in the room uncomfortable."

More at Patch:

• Common Breastfeeding Problems

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