Daily HealthBeat Tip - September 24, 2007

Better health and breastfeeding

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Breastfeeding protects babies against conditions such as respiratory diseases, diabetes and obesity. It reduces mothers’ risks of diabetes, as well as ovarian and breast cancer.

But not enough babies are breastfed. Celeste Philip of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examined national survey data.

"Rates of exclusive breastfeeding are far below desired levels, especially among black infants, and infants born to women who are young, unmarried, poor, have less education or live in rural areas." (12 seconds)

Barriers include a lack of breastfeeding education for women, and workplace conditions that don’t support breastfeeding.

Philip’s article in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report says starting breastfeeding right after birth can raise the chances of making breastfeeding a habit.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: September, 24 2007