I read an interesting tidbit in Baby Talk magazine: 74% of new mothers are currently breastfeeding! :bow2: (it also said something about the govt would like it to be 75% but the govt sucks anyway! :lol
That's great! It's part of the gov'ts Healthy People 2010 Initiative. Here are some other stats. Debid, they don't have at 6 weeks, but they do have exclusive through 3 months.
I think it's kind of sad that the stat for exclusive breastfeeding through 6 months is only 11%. But Washington is double that - so I guess we're doing a little better up here. But still even 22% seems too low.
I am not suprised in the least by the 74% figure, almost all moms I know atleast TRIED to bf and did it for 2-6 weeks. But after the 6 week mark I know more that stopped than continued. I think two things would really help the stats increase: 1. LOTS of info that explains the first 8 weeks is the hardest and then it gets easier, so get all the help you can during that time to make it work. 2. It doesn't have to be all or nothing, once you return to work you do not have to wean, even if you choose not to pump you can nurse when home.
Very interesting! I'm also surprised it's as high as 74% - I'd have thought lower. One thing I'd be very curious about is the demographics of BFing. My DH has a white collar job but also deals with a lot of blue collar folks at work, and whenever he talks to his coworkers about baby stuff, it seems like most of the babies of the white collar workers have had at least some BFing, and most of the babies of the blue collar workers have been FF from the beginning. Another setting where I met a lot of people from very different walks of life was the PPD clinic I went to, and there too it seemed like the lower the income, the higher the chance of FF. Obviously this is just anecdotal, but it seems so weird that the people with less money are the ones choosing the most expensive way to feed their babies. :huh:
QUOTE(fuchsiagroan @ Apr 16 2008, 06:57 PM) [snapback]725211[/snapback] Obviously this is just anecdotal, but it seems so weird that the people with less money are the ones choosing the most expensive way to feed their babies. :huh: I have noticed this as well. In fact there is a breastfeeding "store" in one of the more "upper-class" areas here. The women that runs it said that more and more women are nursing especially in the area of the store. I wonder if it has to do with the fact that for many women of lower socio-economic classes they are worign 1+ jobs and a "blue collar" job in America is more than likely not going to be pump-friendly. Even at my job (white collar/environmental) there is no place but managers offices to pump. Just a guess.
West Virginia isn't very high up on the list! You girls in the Oregon and Washington are good breastfeeders
The entire South is pretty low in the rankings :mellow: And I've also heard that a woman is more likely to BF the higher her income and education level. It makes sense that it's easier to BF if you can afford to stay home than if you have to go back to work and pump (particularly if you're going back to a job where you don't get regular breaks or have access to a private space). I know with the job I left when pregnant that I could have stayed and pumped but the job before that was only BF friendly if you were in upper management.
Yes, very proud of our stats here in Washington. I would guess that white collar / blue collar difference has some correlation to education level - because more educated people are probably more likely to have done the research and have educated themselves on the benefits of breastfeeding. Less educated people are likely to be more susceptable to marketing by formula companies (my profession is marketing, and this is sad but true). I'm not saying this is true in all cases - it's just a generalization. Also linked to income levels - higher income probably equals better access to better trained medical professionals, better prenatal education and care, access to private hospitals with lactation support, etc. And I'm sure there's a big connection to how much support there is in the workplace for white collar vs. blue collar workers. I work in a white collar environment, and my workplace is very supportive - there are 'new mothers rooms' for pumping in every building at our company. But I know other people who would have to pump in a bathroom or something, and that's hard to sustain for a year. But yes, it is too bad that the people who can least afford it are the ones that are choosing the most expensive way to feed their babies. (edited to fix typos - I can't spell tonight - speaking of education!)
Very interesting points raised about white collar vs. blue collar and feeding practices. I think you all are right about returning to work and education level being two big factors. I had been wondering about it myself and wondered if government assistance (WIC, etc.) paying for formula plays into it?? B.A. DD 2-28-05 Identical boys C & J born 8-24-07 @ 38 weeks
That is an awesome stat! QUOTE(cohlee @ Apr 15 2008, 08:12 AM) [snapback]722257[/snapback] (it also said something about the govt would like it to be 75% but the govt sucks anyway! :lol: ) :rotflmbo:
I remember reading somewhere that formula feeding was historically a thing that poorer people aspired to. Only wealthy families could afford the first formulas and breastfeeding was frowned upon as a way of nourishing the young- it was a "dirty" and common thing to do. As formulas became more affordable they were recommended to mothers as the preferred option by many health professionals, especially in the 60s and 70s. The backlash of this is that formula feeding became so widespread that the support network and the knowledge of passing on the skill of breastfeeding through generations was obliterated in many instances. Instead of turning to your mother or auntie for help if you decided to breastfeed, if they had themselves bottle fed they couldn't offer their support and wisdom. Now- yes- the developing world are in the situation that the more educated are likely to feed as they have the knowledge of the benefits of feeding and know how to equip themselves with the support they need. It's a sad state of affairs, but going with the current figures perhaps we're now seeing a turn around for the better. Sorry- I went off on a bit of a ramble there!
Wow, really interesting stats! I think most moms start out with the intention of breastfeeding. They get instruction and support from the nurses/lactation consultant at the hospital, so they at least get started there. Then they go home and the pressures of motherhood and lack of social support get to them and they quit. IMO, the lack of social support is high up there on the list for why moms don't continue to BF. Having other BF moms around to help teach and support the newcomers would be a big motivator for success, IMO. I guess I can only speak for Connecticut - we're a bit uptight over here on the East Coast Only 10% in CT continue to BF exclusively for 6 months - I find that really depressing! I guess we have a group of rare gems on this forum - lots of moms exclusively BF twins into toddlerhood! :Clap: Michelle
QUOTE(Lynie @ Apr 17 2008, 06:03 PM) [snapback]726680[/snapback] I remember reading somewhere that formula feeding was historically a thing that poorer people aspired to. Only wealthy families could afford the first formulas and breastfeeding was frowned upon as a way of nourishing the young- it was a "dirty" and common thing to do. As formulas became more affordable they were recommended to mothers as the preferred option by many health professionals, especially in the 60s and 70s. The backlash of this is that formula feeding became so widespread that the support network and the knowledge of passing on the skill of breastfeeding through generations was obliterated in many instances. Instead of turning to your mother or auntie for help if you decided to breastfeed, if they had themselves bottle fed they couldn't offer their support and wisdom. Now- yes- the developing world are in the situation that the more educated are likely to feed as they have the knowledge of the benefits of feeding and know how to equip themselves with the support they need. It's a sad state of affairs, but going with the current figures perhaps we're now seeing a turn around for the better. Sorry- I went off on a bit of a ramble there! I read something like this as well. I am impressed that us 'Massholes' numbers are right there with the us avg! None of my friends breastfed. :mellow:
