The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee recognizes that not all people who become pregnant or give birth identify as women or mothers. Additionally, babies and children may receive human milk through a variety of methods which include breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and bodyfeeding, pumped milk, pasteurized donor human milk, and more. We use the term “human milk feeding” to include a diverse representation of all feeding journeys. We do at times refer to “women” or “mothers” which acknowledges and includes language that is still common for many people. We also use these terms in reference to policy or legislation specifically stated those group/s, or scientific research conducted specifically with those populations.

How Human Milk Feeding Impacts Health Outcomes

Human milk is the optimal, species-specific food for human babies, and it plays a critical role in building and supporting a young child’s immune system. A recent CDC study found that breastfeeding initiation reduced the risk of post-perinatal infant deaths (between 7-364 days) by 26 percent! Feeding babies human milk saves lives and healthcare dollars across the lifespan, and legislation and programmatic support for lactation support, supplies, and accommodations represent a powerful, wise, and humane investment in public health.

For babies, human milk feeding reduces the risk of:

• Ear, skin, stomach, and respiratory infections
• Sudden unexplained infant death (SUID)
• Obesity
• Type 1 and 2 diabetes
• Asthma
• Childhood leukemia

For parents, human milk feeding reduces the risk of:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Breast and ovarian cancers

 
Learn more about the benefits of human milk.

Infant feeding practices have such a profound impact on population health outcomes that increasing breastfeeding rates and creating lactation-friendly environments have been identified as critical public health priorities nationally as well as globally. In the U.S., breastfeeding rates are included in a variety of national initiatives, including the Healthy People initiative, The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding, as well as the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis.

Barriers to Human Milk Feeding are Pervasive

Despite these proven health benefits, the U.S. has many barriers to establishing and maintaining the human milk feeding relationship. While four out of five babies born in the United States start out being breastfed, less than half are still doing so at six months. Research shows that this drop-off is not a choice most families are making willingly, rather a default decision in the current social context where families are under-supported by public policy. Six out of ten breastfeeding mothers report that they stopped nursing their babies earlier than they intended. This is not due to personal capacity of the parent, but rather because policies and systems that surround and shape our lives are not in alignment with human physiology, including lactation.

Maternity care and postpartum care practices have an immense impact on the establishment of breastfeeding, yet the majority of maternity hospitals do not follow internationally recognized standards.

The U.S. is one of the only countries in the world that does not guarantee paid family leave following the birth or adoption of a new baby. As a result, as many as one in four women return to work within just two weeks of giving birth. When back at work or school, many discover that they are unable to pump as frequently as necessary while others have no choice but to express their milk in an unsanitary or unsafe location, such as a bathroom. It does not have to be this way.

The U.S. has not regulated the marketing practices of the commercial milk formula industry, unlike 70% of the world’s countries, which have implemented at least some part of the WHO's International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes. In the absence of regulation, these marketing practices are predatory and persuasive.

Policy, system, and environmental barriers like these impact all families but have a disproportionate impact on historically underserved and historically marginalized populations. A 2014 study found that zip codes with higher proportions of black residents have significantly lower access to maternity care supportive of breastfeeding. This creates significant and persistent disparities in access to lactation support and in lactation outcomes based on race, geography, and socio-economic status.

Infant Nutrition Security

Babies typically require 8 to 12 feedings a day, and ready access to nutrition is critical to their survival. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants be exclusively breastfed for six months with continued breastfeeding while introducing complementary foods for as long as mutually desired by baby and parent for two years or beyond.

A robust infant feeding infrastructure includes comprehensive lactation support in all policies, systems, and environments where babies and parents interact, as well as safe and equitable access to donor milk and breast milk substitutes (including commercially manufactured infant formula and specialty formulas). Without that infrastructure, many are forced onto painful, difficult, and sub-optimal paths of infant feeding and care. This infrastructure is especially critical during emergencies, including natural disasters, war and violence, supply chain interruptions, pandemics, and beyond.

With so many barriers standing in the way of human milk feeding in the U.S., many families are denied the opportunity of full choice as to how to feed their babies. But it doesn't have to be that way! The U.S. Breastfeeding Committee and our network of members, partners, and supporters are working hard to remove the policy, system, and environmental barriers that stand in families' way. Join us in our efforts to realize our vision of thriving families and communities!