"Monterey County Doesn't Impress With Breastfeeding Success" by News Blog

News Blog

Monterey County Doesn't Impress With Breastfeeding Success

March 1, 2012

Almost 96 percent of Monterey County mothers do at least some breastfeeding during their short hospital stay after giving birth, according to a new report from the California WIC Association and the UC Davis Lactation Center. Almost 70 percent of that is "exclusive," meaning newborns aren't given any form of supplemental nutrition.

Compared with other California counties, that rate isn't such a big whoop. Monterey County falls 23rd of 50 in the study's ranking of in-hospital breastfeeding rates.

In first place is Nevada County, with an 88 percent in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding rate. The booby prize (so to speak) goes to Colusa County, with a less than 9 percent.

The gap in exclusive breastfeeding rates is greatest in hospitals serving low-income mothers and babies, the report finds.

"By improving policies, including maternity care practices, hospitals can dramatically increase their breastfeeding rates," WIC states. "Breastfeeding success is dependent on the support of hospital staff support during those first critical 24 to 72 hours, especially for mothers facing early challenges."

As a mother and breastfeeding professional and advocate in Monterey County, I was pleased to see a mention of the Hospital Breastfeeding Report. I happen to know that all of the hospitals in our county are working hard to improve their support of breastfeeding moms. The fact that 96% of mothers inititate breastfeeding tells us that women know breastfeeding is the ideal way to feed a child. It's true we have a long way to go to improve our county rates, but it isn't just the responsibility of the hospitals to support breastfeeding. We need support from other health professionals, employers (who should provide lactation accommodation in the workplace, per state and federal law) and the community at large. It literally takes a village (or county) to show women they are supported and that breastfeeding is the normal method of infant feeding. Why should the rest of the community care? Breastfeeding promotes healthier children and mothers, including lowering the risk of obesity and diabetes, and saves health care dollars. It has a minimal environmental footprint compared to the alternatives. Let's work together to make breastfeeding the norm in Monterey County.