Frequently Asked Questions
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What should I do if I have a problem breastfeeding?
Contact your personal physician or someone professionally trained to assist
with breastfeeding problems. Find a Lactation
Consultant in your area, or contact a local La Leche League Leader.
Where can I get information on breastfeeding?
Contact your State Health Department, local WIC clinic, or local La Leche League affiliate.
Download the US Department of Health and Human Services Blueprint for Action on
Breastfeeding for more resources.
What are CDC's breastfeeding activities?
CDC's role is in research, surveillance, program evaluation and national
policy development to support and promote breastfeeding. Many other U.S.
Government agencies are currently working on issues related to breastfeeding. What's happening within the
Federal government?
What percentage of women breastfeed their babies in the United States?
"Healthy People
2010" is a national initiative to increase health among Americans by
the year 2010. That document uses the following 1998 percentages as baseline
data for mothers who are breastfeeding at three different points in time:
In early postpartum period 64%
At 6 months 29%
At 1 year 16%
Rates of exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months of age, based on NHANES III
data are:
All infants 9.5%
Non-Hispanic White 10.9%
Non-Hispanic Black 4.2%
Mexican American 7.1%
Other 11.5%
[Source: Prevalence of Exclusive Breastfeeding Among US Infants: the
Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (Phase II, 1991-1994) American Journal of Public Health July 2002, Vol.
92, No. 7.]
Are there growth charts available to assess growth in breastfed infants?
Although there are no growth charts specifically for breastfed infants, the
revised Centers for Disease
Control Growth Charts, released on May 31, 2000 included breastfed
babies in the reference population. These charts are recommended for
all babies in the United States.
When should a baby start eating solid foods?
Exclusive breastfeeding is ideal nutrition and sufficient to support optimal
growth and development for approximately the first 6 months after birth.
The American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that water, juice, and other foods
are generally unnecessary in the first 6 months of life. Ask your pediatrician
about what signs to look for, to show that your baby is ready to begin
eating solid foods.
How long should a mother breastfeed?
The American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that breastfeeding continue for
at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mother and baby desire.
The World
Health Organization recommends continued breastfeeding up to 2 years
of age or beyond.
What can happen if someone else's breastmilk is given to another child?
HIV and other serious infectious diseases can be transmitted through breastmilk.
However, the risk of infection from a single bottle of breastmilk, even
if the mother is HIV positive, is extremely small. For women who do not
have HIV or other serious infectious diseases, there is little risk to
the child who receives her breastmilk.
Does breast milk qualify as a "potential infectious fluid"?
No. CDC does not list human breastmilk as a body fluid to which universal
precautions apply. Please read the CDC, MMWR, Mortality
and Morbidity Weekly Report "Perspectives in Disease Prevention
and Health Promotion Update: Universal Precautions for Prevention of
Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, and
Other Bloodborne Pathogens in Health-Care Settings" or the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
1995 Policy Statement on this issue for more information.
Should mothers who smoke or use prescription drugs breastfeed?
Most likely, yes. Most drugs likely to be prescribed to the nursing mother
should have no effect on milk supply or on infant well-being. Mothers
who smoke are encouraged to quit, however, breastmilk remains the ideal
food for a baby even if the mother smokes.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) lists prescription and non-prescription drugs by their compatibility
with breastfeeding. Although nicotine may be present in breastmilk,
adverse effects on the infant during breastfeeding have not been reported.
AAP recognizes pregnancy and lactation as two ideal times to promote smoking
cessation, but does not indicate that mothers who smoke should not breastfeed.
Is it safe for a hepatitis B carrier mother to breastfeed her baby?
Yes. A mother
infected with hepatitis B virus does not need to avoid breastfeeding.
She can begin breastfeeding her infant immediately after birth if she follows
the recommendations of the Immunization Practices
Advisory Committee. Her infant should be vaccinated within 12 hours
of birth with the second dose of vaccine given at 1 month of age, and the
third dose at age 6 months.
Is it safe for a hepatitis C (HCV) positive mother to breastfeed?
Yes. Breastfeeding
is not contraindicated for hepatitis C positive mothers. Transmission
of hepatitis C through breastmilk has not been documented. More information
is available through the CDC National Center for Infectious Diseases Hepatitis Web
site in the Pregnancy and Breastfeeding portion of the Hepatitis C Frequently
Asked Questions.
Is it safe for an HIV-infected mother to breastfeed?
HIV-infected
women in the United States should not breastfeed or provide their breastmilk
for the nutrition of any infants because of the risk of HIV transmission
to the child. Read the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
1995 Policy Statement for more information.
Can West Nile virus be transmitted through breastmilk?
Based on a recent case in Michigan, it appears that West Nile virus can be
transmitted through breastmilk. However, the health benefits of breastfeeding
are well established, and the risk of transmitting West Nile virus through
breastfeeding is unknown. Therefore, these new findings do not suggest
a change in breastfeeding recommendations.
Breastfeeding women who are ill or are having problems breastfeeding for
any reason should consult their physician. The CDC, West
Nile Virus Frequently Asked Questions." and the Oct 4, 2002 MMWR,
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, answer questions concerning the
West Nile virus and breastfeeding.
Are silicone breast implants a risk for breastfed babies?
No. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) latest statement on "Transfer of Drugs and Other
Chemicals Into Human Milk" (Sept 2001), states that it does
NOT consider silicone breast implants to be a risk to the breastfeeding baby.
Many mothers successfully breastfeed their babies despite the presence of
silicone breast implants. Find a Lactation
Consultant in your area , or contact a local La Leche League Leader
for support and assistance.
I have heard that chemicals that we are exposed to in the environment
can be transmitted to infants through breastmilk. Should a mother still
breastfeed her baby?
Yes. In spite of trace amounts of chemical residues found in breastmilk,
breastfeeding is recommended worldwide. The benefits of breastfeeding, including
better cognitive skills and better immune system, outweigh the possible risks
of effects from environmental chemicals later in life. Human milk is the
best nutrition for developing babies; therefore, mothers should breastfeed
their infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Environmental
Health has more information in their Handbook
of Pediatric Environmental Health, chapter 16: Human Milk.
I would like to donate breastmilk to someone who needs it. How can I
donate breastmilk?
There are currently six milk banks operating in North America that are members
of the Human Milk Banking Association of
North America (HMBANA), which promulgates standards for treating and
dispensing the milk. Just as donors of blood, organs and tissue are screened,
so are women who donate their milk. Donor milk is pasteurized to kill bacteria
and viruses, and then tested to ensure no bacteria are present. Banked milk
is then frozen until needed, and rigid protocols ensure careful handling
at each stage of processing and distribution. The milk is dispensed by prescription
only.
HMBANA lists contact information for
all North American regulated Milk Banks. Contact the milk bank nearest you
for specific donation information.
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