The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality have joined forces to launch a special breast feeding program at 90 hospitals and medical facilities across the country. The program, Best Fed Beginnings, will be led by nurses who will be responsible for advising new mothers on the most optimal feeding methods for their infants.
As part of the program, the New York City Health Department launched their own initiative, Latch on NYC, to provide support for breastfeeding mothers.
"Human breast milk is best for babies and mothers," said New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley. "When babies receive supplementary formula in the hospital or mothers receive promotional baby formula on hospital discharge, it can impede the establishment of an adequate milk supply and can undermine women's confidence in breastfeeding."
Nursing midwives who are responsible for caring for mothers postpartum can inform their patients about the many benefits of breastfeeding. The program outlines 10 unique steps, including keeping babies away from pacifiers during the first few weeks of life, to ensure that infants make the most of breast milk.
As part of the program, the New York City Health Department launched their own initiative, Latch on NYC, to provide support for breastfeeding mothers.
"Human breast milk is best for babies and mothers," said New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley. "When babies receive supplementary formula in the hospital or mothers receive promotional baby formula on hospital discharge, it can impede the establishment of an adequate milk supply and can undermine women's confidence in breastfeeding."
Nursing midwives who are responsible for caring for mothers postpartum can inform their patients about the many benefits of breastfeeding. The program outlines 10 unique steps, including keeping babies away from pacifiers during the first few weeks of life, to ensure that infants make the most of breast milk.
