Reports published between 2013 and 2018 show that the number of infants exclusively breastfed through 3 months of age is rising in the United States and in Arkansas. Despite this increase, the majority of infants in Arkansas do not breastfeed as long as is recommended by national experts, with fewer than half exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months of age according to the 2018 State of Breastfeeding National Report Card.

Research suggests that breastfeeding helps protect infants against obesity during the first year of life and into childhood.  The longer an infant is breastfed, the greater benefit the infant may receive.  Infants that are exclusively breasted (infants that receive only mother’s milk and are never given formula) have fewer intestinal problems and have a healthier distribution of ‘good’ gut bacteria. Researchers have suggested that these differences in gut bacteria may be one of many reasons breastfed babies are more likely to achieve a healthy weight.  

Arkansas Breastfeeding Coalition

Arkansas Department of Health Programs including:

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

Family Health Branch

Office of Minority Health

Worksite Wellness & Health Communication

Coordinated School Health

Local Public Health Hometown Health

Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care

Arkansas Public Health Association

Association of State and Public Health Nutritionists

Breastfeeding Promotion Taskforce

Brothers United & Sisters United

Healthy Active Arkansas

Private and public institutions including hospitals, universities, early child care providers

Research has shown that women who deliver in a hospital that practices none of the Baby-Friendly recommendations are 13 times more likely to stop breastfeeding before her infant’s 6th week of life. However, each Baby-Friendly strategy adopted by birthing facilities has been shown to increase breastfeeding rates. Similarly, higher mPINC scoring states show increased breastfeeding rates at 8 weeks.

Several practices that support (or interfere) with breastfeeding initiation are tracked through the mPINC survey. Separation of a mother and her infant during the first 2 hours after delivery interrupts breastfeeding; common delivery medications can make infants too drowsy to feed well; IV fluids can interfere with milk production and infant latching.

Baby-Friendly birthing hospitals, state breastfeeding-related legislation, and expansion of outreach and increased access to breastfeeding support services are helping increase breastfeeding rates. As fewer women introduce formula, breastfeeding is becoming a socially-accepted way to feed an infant.  This change may be a powerful influence behind the increase of exclusive breastfeeding in Arkansas.

Strategy 1: Develop programs to build awareness that breastfeeding is the optimal way of providing young infants with nutrients they need for  healthy growth and development.

Strategy 2: Provide support that promotes breastfeeding as the optimal form of nutrition.

Strategy 3: Encourage adoption of "baby-friendly" guidelines as outlined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Guide to Strategies to Support Breastfeeding Mothers and Babies.

Breastfeeding Report Card, CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm

Arkansas Department of Health: Breastfeeding Information and Support https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/breastfeeding-information-and-support

Arkansas Breastfeeding Coalition https://arbfc.org/