My one-year-old on her birthday!

My nursling now joins the 21.4% of American babies that are breastfeeding at the one-year mark according to the National Immunization Survey breastfeeding statistics. She falls at the 75th and 80th percentiles for height and weight, which puts her right in between her oldest sister who always topped out at the 95th and her other sister who hovered around the 50th.

If I add up all the months I have been breastfeeding — from this precious moment with my first born, through this funny moment with my second nursing toddler, up to my third baby — I have been lactating for seven years now, which is about 19% of my life. I have to say, that gives me a certain sense of accomplishment. It’s not because my nurslings and I breastfed for any particular length of time or met any particular milestone, but because I have the satisfaction of knowing I worked hard to overcome the challenges I faced along the way — the challenges that inspired me to start blogging about breastfeeding — and because I have had the satisfaction of providing my milk for my babies.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

~ The percentage of infants who were ever breastfed increased from 60% among infants who were born in 1993-1994 to 77% among infants who were born in 2005-2006.

~ Breastfeeding rates increased significantly among non-Hispanic black women from 36% in 1993-1994 to 65% in 2005-2006.

~ Breastfeeding rates in 1999-2006 were significantly higher among those with higher income (74%) compared with those who had lower income (57%).

~ Breastfeeding rates among mothers 30 years and older were significantly higher than those of younger mothers. There was no significant change in the rate of breastfeeding at 6 months of age for infants born between 1993 and 2004.

Race and ethnicity factor significantly in breastfeeding initiation rates. “In the 2005-2006 birth cohort group, 65% of non-Hispanic black infants were breastfed compared with 80% of Mexican American and 79% of non-Hispanic white infants.” As reported above, the great news is that the 65% breastfeeding initiation rate for African-Americans has increased from 36% for babies born in 1993-1994.

Of the rise in breastfeeding rates, CDC spokesperson Jeff Lancashire says, “It looks like it is an all-time high” based on CDC surveys since the mid-1980s, according to an Associated Press report.

Where do Americans still need to make the most progress? The Associated Press summarizes the CDC report as indicating that breastfeeding rates were lowest among women who are unmarried, poor, rural, younger than 20, and have a high school education or less.

Click here for the full data brief issued by the CDC/NCHS.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3