The US Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher this has released a comprehensive national plan entitled HHS Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding to promote and increase breast-feeding rates throughout the US. The report discusses current statistics, some of the benefits of breastfeeding, and ways to increase the practice.

Of course, if it wasn't for the CRIMINAL actions of the government and medical societies years ago telling women how superior formula feeding was, most women would be breastfeeding today and there would be no need for this report in the first place.

The plan focuses on:

• Education
  
• Counseling and support for new mothers
  
• Changes to the healthcare system
  
• Changes to the workplace

The plan makes several recommendations concerning the healthcare system, the workplace, public education, childcare facilities and infant formula marketing, such as:

• Healthcare workers should be taught how to encourage their patients to breast-feed
  

• Enhanced hospital-based breastfeeding practices such as allowing and encouraging babies to room-in with mothers

• Women who return to work after childbirth should have access to facilities to accommodate breast-feeding or "pumping"

• Encourage the media to portray breastfeeding is a positive light

For more details and other recommendations made in the plan, see the full text of the Surgeon General's report, which is available online.

The main reason for the Surgeon General's plan is the currently abysmally low number of breastfeeding women. Some of the disturbing statistics cited in the report are:

• Only 64% of US women even attempt to breast-feed their babies

• At 6 months, only a mere 29% are still breast-feeding
  

• Rates are especially low among poor women, and among African Americans (only 19% still breast-feeding at 6 months)

These low figures are most surprising when you consider all of the benefits of breastfeeding, some of which are cited by the report, such as:

Resistance to Infectious Disease - Many substances in human milk are active against infection. Since the infant's immune system does not fully mature until about 2 years of age. According to the report, research shows that breastfeeding may reduce the incidence and severity of the following conditions:

• Ear infections (otitis media)
  
• Respiratory tract infection
  
• Pneumonia
  
• Diarrhea
  
• Urinary infection
  
• Invasive bacterial infection

Enhanced Immune System - It has been shown that breastfed babies produce enhanced immune response to both vaccination and infection, as well as resulting in earlier development of the immune system.

Nutritional and Growth Benefits - For obvious reasons, human milk has a nutritional profile that more closely matches the needs of babies, than does the milk of any other species. For example, compared to cow's milk, human milk:

• Has less total protein and less casein
  

• Has a different lipid and enzyme composition
  

• Results in less obese and overweight children

Reduced Risk for Chronic Diseases - Studies have shown evidence that breastfeeding may reduce the incidence of certain chronic diseases, such as:

• Both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
  
• Childhood Cancer
  
• Celiac Disease
  
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  
• Allergies
• Asthma

Developmental Benefits - There is some evidence that breastfeeding may enhance cognitive function and improve visual acuity.

Improved Maternal Health - Breastfeeding has several positive hormonal, physical, and psychosocial effects on the mother. For example, breastfeeding:

• Increases levels of the hormone oxytocin. This can help to contract the uterus following birth and minimize blood loss.

• Delays the resumption of normal ovarian cycles and the return of fertility following childbirth

• Improves self-confidence and bonding with infant

• May reduce the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer

Socioeconomic Benefit - Breastfeeding has several socioeconomic benefits, such as:

• Breastfed infants usually require fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations. One study found a 20% cost reduction for fully breastfed infants versus never breastfed infants.
  

• Employers would benefit from having their employee's breastfeed, since the infants would be sick less, requiring employees to take less time off to care for them. It has been shown that maternal absenteeism is significantly lower in companies with established lactation programs. In addition, employer medical costs are reduced with more breastfeeding mothers.

Tessa Martyn of the United Kingdom based advocacy group Baby Milk Action (www.BabyMilkAction.org) was kind enough to provide The Optimal Wellness Center with some comments on the Surgeon General's Report. The group is part of the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) - a coalition of more than 150 citizen and health worker groups in more than 90 countries, that works for better child health and nutrition through the promotion of breastfeeding and the elimination of irresponsible marketing of infant foods, bottles and pacifiers.

While viewing the report very favorably, "as we do anything which is genuinely trying to increase breastfeeding rates" she notes one disagreement with the report's recommendations. The report recommends that women who are HIV positive should not breastfeed. As a matter of fact, this may be much more than a simple recommendation as in the United States some HIV-positive mothers have been ordered by the courts to refrain from breastfeeding or have their newborn babies taken into custody.

"We feel it is the right of these mothers to be fully informed about the risks and benefits of both breastfeeding and artificial feeding, and then free to make infant feeding decisions which will be supported by health professionals," she states. The group, Baby Milk Action, can be reached at info@babymilkaction.org.

"Low breast-feeding rates documented in the Blueprint for Action are a serious public health challenge, particularly in certain minority communities," Surgeon General Satcher said. "With scientific evidence indicating that breast-feeding can play an important role in infant's health, the time has come for us to work together to promote optimal breast-feeding practices."

The HHS Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding can be found at the National Women's Health Information Center at www.4woman.gov or call toll-free at 1-800-994-WOMAN.