This short extract was taken from “Nutrition in the First 1,000 Days. State of the World’s Mothers 2012”.
Compiled by “Save the Children International”.
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Poor compliance with breastfeeding recommendations costs the world economy billions of dollars each year. In the United States alone, it is estimated that low rates of breastfeeding add $13 billion to medical costs and lead to 911 excess deaths every year. In the United Kingdom, it was estimated in 1995 that the National Health Service spent £35 million per year in England and Wales treating gastroenteritis in formula-fed infants and that, for every 1 percent increase in breastfeeding at 13 weeks, £500,000 would be saved.
The reasons why women don’t breastfeed are varied and complex. In most developed countries, the majority of women report they try to breastfeed, but then at 3 months a significant percentage are not breastfeeding exclusively, and at 6 months many have stopped nursing. Mothers who want to breastfeed may become frustrated by physical challenges or the amount of time required. They may lose confidence if their baby has difficulty latching and there is not a lactation consultant or support group they can turn to for advice. If she has a demanding work schedule, or lack of support at home, a mother may be forced to stop breastfeeding or start using formula sooner than she would like. Breastfeeding practices tend to vary widely across race, ethnicity, education and income levels. Often, disadvantaged mothers breastfeed less that their more privileged counterparts.
State of the World’s Mothers 2012. Read More…
