Fri, May 16 2008
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Here’s a bit of good news for the health of the youngest among us: 77 percent of new mothers in the United States now are breast feeding, at least initially. The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta says that’s the highest rate in at least 20 years and bodes well for the health of the infants.
In a survey done in 1993-1994, 60 percent of mothers were breast feeding.
Education campaign that emphasize that the milk a woman’s body naturally produces is better than formula at protecting babies against disease and childhood obesity was cited as a major reason for the increase. In addition, society is more accommodating to nursing mothers than it was even 15 years ago. A changing culture also is now more accommodating to nursing mothers. A new mother also can save a good deal of money by breast feeding instead of buying formula. That’s another factor.
Breast feeding can be inconvenient and requires some accommodation the part of employers, but it it nature’s way to providing nutrition for newborns. It should be encouraged.
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