Daily HealthBeat Tip

Baby's best

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Breastfeeding is best for babies. Doctors agree on it, but a lot of new moms don't do it. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have some numbers on that � and ideas for moms.

Their survey data, in the journal Pediatrics, found 32 percent of women never started breastfeeding. Of those who started, 4 percent stopped in the first week and 13 percent in the first month. Researcher Indu Ahluwalia says reasons ranged from sore nipples to going back to work.

But Ahluwalia says there are good reasons to breastfeed:

"The baby's immune system can benefit from breast milk. It is easier to digest, as breast milk is a complete form of nutrition for the growing and developing infant." (nine seconds)

Moms who have trouble breastfeeding could get help from their pediatrician or from other moms who successfully breastfed.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: December 20, 2005

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