Five-Year Progress Update on the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding, 2011

Abstract

In 2011, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin issued a Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding (Call to Action) in an effort to mobilize families, communities, clinicians, healthcare systems, and employers to take action to improve support for breastfeeding. The Call to Action identified 20 key action steps to address society-wide breastfeeding barriers in six areas: mothers and families, communities, healthcare, employment, research, and public health infrastructure. This report highlights major federal activities that show progress toward answering the Call to Action in the first 5 years since its launch.

Predictors of Breastfeeding Initiation and Maintenance in an Integrated Healthcare Setting

“…Breastfeeding is beneficial for both infants and mothers. Breastfeeding has been associated with a lower incidence and decreased severity of a wide variety of infectious diseases in infants (e.g., respiratory and gastrointestinal infections and otitis media) as well as a decreased risk of sudden infant death syndrome and infant mortality (Anstey, MacGowan, & Allen, 2016; Patnode, Henninger, Senger, Perdue, & Whitlock, 2016b). Breastfeeding may also protect against chronic diseases during later childhood (e.g., asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity) (Ahluwalia, Morrow, D’Angelo, & Li, 2012; Anstey et al, 2016; Patnode et al, 2016b).…”

“…Breastfeeding has been associated with a lower incidence and decreased severity of a wide variety of infectious diseases in infants (e.g., respiratory and gastrointestinal infections and otitis media) as well as a decreased risk of sudden infant death syndrome and infant mortality (Anstey, MacGowan, & Allen, 2016; Patnode, Henninger, Senger, Perdue, & Whitlock, 2016b). Breastfeeding may also protect against chronic diseases during later childhood (e.g., asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity) (Ahluwalia, Morrow, D’Angelo, & Li, 2012; Anstey et al, 2016; Patnode et al, 2016b). For mothers, documented health benefits of breastfeeding include less postpartum bleeding, increased child spacing, earlier return to prepregnancy weight, and lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers, maternal type 2 diabetes, and postmenopausal osteoporosis and fractures (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2012; Anstey et al, 2016; Gunderson et al, 2015; Patnode et al, 2016b).…”

“…Breastfeeding may also protect against chronic diseases during later childhood (e.g., asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity) (Ahluwalia, Morrow, D’Angelo, & Li, 2012; Anstey et al, 2016; Patnode et al, 2016b). For mothers, documented health benefits of breastfeeding include less postpartum bleeding, increased child spacing, earlier return to prepregnancy weight, and lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers, maternal type 2 diabetes, and postmenopausal osteoporosis and fractures (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2012; Anstey et al, 2016; Gunderson et al, 2015; Patnode et al, 2016b). Although less extensively documented, psychosocial benefits of breastfeeding may include improved mother–infant bonding and less risk of postpartum depression (Anstey et al, 2016).…”

“…For mothers, documented health benefits of breastfeeding include less postpartum bleeding, increased child spacing, earlier return to prepregnancy weight, and lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers, maternal type 2 diabetes, and postmenopausal osteoporosis and fractures (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2012; Anstey et al, 2016; Gunderson et al, 2015; Patnode et al, 2016b). Although less extensively documented, psychosocial benefits of breastfeeding may include improved mother–infant bonding and less risk of postpartum depression (Anstey et al, 2016). With regard to breastfeeding exclusivity and duration, the literature generally suggests that any breastfeeding is more beneficial than no breastfeeding and that longer duration, particularly for exclusive breastfeeding, confers greater maternal and infant health benefits than shorter duration (Kramer & Kakuma, 2012).…”

“…A number of sociodemographic factors have been previously associated with an increased likelihood of both breastfeeding initiation and maintenance: older maternal age, married status, Asian or White race, Hispanic ethnicity, higher maternal education, higher socioeconomic status, access to private insurance, and residence in certain regions (Ahluwalia et al, 2012; Anstey et al, 2016; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2017).…”