Month: June 2012

In a new study, only about 1 out of 3 women who planned to give their babies only breast milk for a few months managed to meet their goals. But the study also found that hospital practices can affect the odds of success. Researchers looked at information from surveys of more than 3,000 women. The women filled out questionnaires while pregnant and monthly until the baby was a year old. Before their babies were born, about 85% planned to breastfeed exclusively for at least 3 months. But only 32% of these women met their own goal. About 15% quit breastfeeding before they even left the hospital. But women were twice as likely to meet their goals if the hospitals did not give the babies extra feedings of formula. The journal Pediatrics published the study. HealthDay News and Reuters Health news service wrote about it June 4.