With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and working closely with Baby-Friendly USA, NICHQ (National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality) is leading the Best Fed Beginnings project, a nationwide effort to make quality improvements to maternity care to better support mothers and babies to be able to breastfeed. Using the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a set of evidence-based maternity care practices, the project will help hospitals in 29 states throughout the country improve practices that support breastfeeding, to achieve Baby-Friendly designation.

The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) has been contracted by NICHQ to work with state breastfeeding coalitions, in partnership with local/community coalitions (as appropriate), to develop systems to advance continuity of lactation support between hospitals, outpatient health care settings, and community settings to support implementation of Steps 3 and 10, for hospitals in the Best Fed Beginnings Collaborative.

Information for Hospitals

General Resources

Directory of State/Territorial/Tribal Breastfeeding Coalitions

Implementing TJC Core Measure on Exclusive Breast Milk Feeding and Related Resources for Hospitals/Maternity Centers

USBC Position Statements

CDC National Survey of Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC)

CDC Breastfeeding Report Card

Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Clinical Protocols

Health Care Professional Association Policy/Position Statements on Breastfeeding

Federal Policies and Initiatives

National Prevention Strategy (published June 2011)

The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding (published January 2011)

Let's Move! and the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity (started 2010, ongoing)

Healthy People 2020: Breastfeeding Objectives (published 2010)

AHRQ Evidence Report: Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries (published 2007)

Questions or Inquiries

Please contact Emily Lindsey, Project Manager, Hospital-Community Relations