The health benefits of breastfeeding are colossal.  Health benefits include reduced risk of obesity and diabetes for both mother and baby, reduced risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), ear infections, respiratory infections, digestive problems, and is imperative for reducing the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) for premature babies.  Initiating breastfeeding can decrease infant mortality by twenty percent.

The Center for Disease Control has determined that the first hours and days after birth are crucial to establishing breastfeeding success. Research-based hospital policies and practices have shown to result in breastfeeding success.  These policies and practices include:

• Skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby immediately after birth
• Staying in the same room continuously while at the hospital (24 hour rooming in)
• Initiating breastfeeding within the first hour after birth and continuing to breastfeed on demand
• Not giving any other food or drink to a breastfed baby unless medically indicated
• Not giving a breastfed baby a pacifier until the mother’s milk supply is established (usually 3-4 weeks)
• Access to hospital-grade breast pumps if mother and baby must be separated
• No sample formula provided as “just in case”
• Referral to support services upon hospital discharge

As a breastfeeding support program, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) has a strong mandate to promote and support breastfeeding.  WIC has trained staff that can provide support and research-based, culturally sensitive information about breastfeeding.  WIC strives to help increase breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity, and duration.   If you have any questions about breastfeeding, please contact us.

Additional Resources

• Breastfeeding: what to expect the first six weeks (pdf)
• Making enough breastmilk (pdf)
• WIC birth plan (pdf)
• Breastfeeding classes and support