Hospital Actions Affect Breastfeeding Infographics
Percentage of babies breastfeeding during the first year
Graphic showing percentage of babies breastfeeding during the first year: 80% of babies start out breastfeeding. Percent of Any Breastfeeding at 3 months is 65%; at 6 months is 51%; at 9 months is 37% and at 12 months is 29%. Percent of Exclusive Breastfeeding is 43% at 3 months and 22% at 6 months.
SOURCE: CDC’s National Immunization Survey, among babies born in 2012.
However…hospitals are making progress on the Ten Steps
Percentage of hospitals using the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
Graphic showing the percent of hospitals using the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding in 2007 and 2013.
- Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff: 12% in 2007; 26% in 2013
- Train all health care staff in the skills necessary to implement this policy: 45% in 2007; 60% in 2013
- Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding: 93% in 2007; 91% in 2013
- Help mothers start breastfeeding within one hour of birth: 44% in 2007; 65% in 2013
- Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants: 88% in 2007; 92% in 2013
- Give infants no food or drink other than breast-milk, unless medically necessary: 21% in 2007; 26% in 2013
- Practice rooming in – allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day: 31% in 2007; 45% in 2013
- Encourage breastfeeding on demand: 77% in 2007; 87% in 2013
- Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants: 25% in 2007; 45% in 2013
- Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or birth center: 27% in 2007; 32% in 2013
SOURCE: CDC’s Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care Survey.
Hospital Successes
89 hospitals in 29 states
With CDC support, the Best Fed Beginnings program helped 89 hospitals in 29 states work towards Baby-Friendly status. As of August 2015, 50 of these hospitals were designated. The other 39 hospitals reached the final phase of designation.
13 hospitals in Indian Country
Since the Indian Health Service (IHS) launched its Baby-Friendly hospital effort in 2011, all 13 Federal IHS hospitals have achieved Baby-Friendly status.
SOURCE: Vital Signs, September 2015.
Percentage of US babies born in Baby-Friendly hospitals increased from 1% in 2005 to 14% in 2015.
SOURCE: CDC and Baby-Friendly, USA.
More hospitals are using a majority of the Ten Steps
Graphic showing percent of hospitals using the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013.
- 29% in 2007
- 37% in 2009
- 43% in 2011
- 54% in 2013
SOURCE: CDC’s Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care Survey.
- Page last reviewed: October 6, 2015
- Page last updated: October 6, 2015
- Content source:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
- Page maintained by: Office of the Associate Director for Communications (OADC)