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PEDIATRICS Vol. 112 No. 3 September 2003, pp. e234-e236

ELECTRONIC ARTICLE

Sustained Breastfeeding Rates at a US Baby-Friendly Hospital

Barbara L. Philipp, MD*,{ddagger}, Kirsten L. Malone, BA{ddagger}, Sabrina Cimo, BA§ and Anne Merewood, MA||

* Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
{ddagger} Breastfeeding Center, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
§ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
|| Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, and Breastfeeding Center, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts

Objective. Boston Medical Center (BMC) became the 22nd US Baby-Friendly hospital in 1999. Previous research found that breastfeeding initiation rates increased significantly from 58% in 1995 to 86.5% in 1999. The objective of this study was to establish whether Baby-Friendly status would sustain elevated breastfeeding initiation rates at this US hospital beyond the year of designation. Breastfeeding rates in 1999 were compared with rates in 2000 and 2001.

Methods. A total of 200 medical records of full-term, healthy infants who were born at BMC in 2000 and 2001 were reviewed using the same criteria as the study conducted for 1999. Records were selected randomly by a computer-generated list. All infant feedings during the hospital postpartum stay were tallied, and each infant was categorized into 1 of 4 groups: 1) exclusive breast milk, 2) mostly breast milk, 3) mostly formula, and 4) exclusive formula.

Results. Maternal and infant demographics for all 3 years were comparable. The breastfeeding initiation rates, defined as an infant’s receiving any amount of breast milk, remained at high levels: 87% (1999), 82% (2000), and 87% (2001). Infants who received more breast milk than formula also was sustained: 73% (1999), 67% (2000), and 67% (2001). Infants who were breastfed exclusively across the 4 years did not differ significantly: 34% (1999), 26% (2000), and 25% (2001).

Conclusions. Full implementation and continued application of the "Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding," the framework of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, has an extended positive impact on breastfeeding rates in a US hospital setting.

Key Words: breastfeeding • breastfeeding rates • Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

Abbreviations: BFHI, Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative • BMC, Boston Medical Center

Received for publication Sep 11, 2002; Accepted May 2, 2003.




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