Breast-feeding rates growing strong

CHICAGO – The recession and a new baby are a scary pairing, but some are hoping it will inspire more mothers to breast-feed.

“You can save $1,000 to $3,000 a year just by breast-feeding,” says Gina Cicatelli Ciagne, director of breast-feeding and consumer relations for Lansinoh, which sells breast-feeding accessories.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says breast-feeding has been increasing for the last decade, with recent data showing 74 percent of new mothers initiating breast-feeding. That’s up from 68 percent in 1999. And women appear to be breast-feeding longer, with 43 percent still breast-feeding at six months and 23 percent at 12 months (up from 33 percent at 6 months and 15 percent at 12 months in 1999).

But Deborah Dee, epidemiologist at the CDC, cautions against linking the increases to the recession.

“There are no data we know of on that,” Dee says, though she welcomes the increase. “We want as many people as possible to breast-feed.”

The Healthy People 2010 initiative – a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agenda to increase quality and years of life – sets specific goals for breast-feeding. The objectives call for 75 percent of women to initiate breast-feeding, 50 percent to continue breast-feeding at least six months and 25 percent to breast-feed at least one year.

Ciagne says women are often discouraged when breast-feeding becomes difficult (“It’s natural, but it doesn’t always come naturally”) and give up after a few weeks. She urges moms to seek help from the International Lactation Consultant Association (ilca.org) or La Leche League (llli.org).

“Beyond the cost of formula, research shows the health benefits for mom and baby translate to fewer days out of the office and school, fewer insurance claims, fewer doctors’ visits,” she adds. “It’s really the best preventive medicine you could ask for.”