hypertension. African American women are disproportionately affected by hypertension, and yet breastfeeding continues to lag behind this group of women compared to the general population.
“Breastfeeding helps women lose weight, which helps reduce the risk of hypertension and diabetes,” Dr. Wright added.
To increase the rate of breastfeeding among black infants, interventions are needed to address barriers experienced disproportionately by black mothers, including earlier return to work, inadequate receipt of breastfeeding information from providers, and lack of access to professional breastfeeding support. Enhanced understanding of these barriers could improve the effectiveness of interventions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There are certain benefits to giving baby nothing but breast milk. One benefit is the cost – breast milk is free. Increasingly, Dr. Wright said formula is an out-of-pocket expense.
Dr. Wright said many new moms turn to formula because they need to return to work. She offered a