More US hospitals encourage breast-feeding; two-thirds prod moms to start within hour of birth

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Health officials say more hospitals are encouraging new mothers to breast-feed.

A new report found more than two-thirds of hospitals in 2013 helped women start breast-feeding within an hour after birth. That’s up from 44 per cent six years earlier.

Roughly 90 per cent of hospitals teach moms breast-feeding techniques and how to recognize and respond to infant feeding cues.

But only about a quarter refrain from giving infants breast milk alternatives — like formula or water — unless medically necessary.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveyed about 2,700 hospitals for the report released Tuesday.

Overall, about 80 per cent of U.S. babies breast-feed, at least briefly.

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Online:

CDC report: http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns