The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months. Nationally, breastfeeding initiation rates are increasing. In 2005, 73.8% of babies were ever breastfed, and in 2013, 81.1% were breastfed at some point. Iowa has also seen increased breastfeeding initiation rates, indicating more and more women want to breastfeed.
Measure Description:
- Infants ever breastfed is the percentage of births where breastfeeding was initiated prior to hospital discharge for the delivery.