Wednesday, Sep. 03, 2008

Stanislaus 'average' in breast-feeding

County rate just under state's 42.7%; income, race, education are factors

Because of the health benefits to babies and their mothers, experts recommend that breast-feeding start in the hospital soon after birth.

A study of breast-feeding rates in California hospitals concludes, however, that some hospitals do a better job than others in supporting mothers who want to breast-feed.

Statewide, less than half of new mothers are exclusively breast-feeding their babies when they leave hospitals and the rates are even lower in some counties in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

In Stanislaus County, the breast-feeding rate was 42 percent, just under the state average, according to the study released today by the University of California at Davis Human Lactation Center and the California Women, Infants and Children Association.

San Joaquin and Merced counties, at 34 percent and 22 percent respectively, were among the 10 counties in California with the lowest breast-feeding rates. Tuolumne County, at 59 percent, was well above the state average of 42.7 percent.

The study, which analyzed 2007 data, also found low rates of breast-feeding in hospitals that serve large numbers of low- income and minority women, suggesting that more needs to be done to bridge cultural barriers.

In Stanislaus County, almost 59 percent of white women who gave birth in local hospitals gave only breast milk to their newborns. The rate was 33 percent among Latino mothers and 32 percent among African Americans.

Memorial Medical Center got the gold star for helping mothers get started with breast-feeding. Almost 63 percent at the Modesto hospital were doing exclusive breast-feeding.

At Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, the rates differed depending on the type of insurance coverage. Mothers whose obstetricians are with Kaiser Permanente -- a health system that promotes breast-feeding -- had a 44 percent exclusive breast-feeding rate, compared with 28 percent among non-Kaiser patients at Emanuel.

About 60 percent of Kaiser maternity patients at Dameron Hospital in Stockton were breast-feeding exclusively, which was consistent with the theme of the report -- that education and support play a key role.

"Breast-feeding should not depend on where you are born," said Karen Farley, program manager for the California WIC Association. "We know that when babies are exclusively breast-fed in the hospital, they are more likely to be breast-fed exclusively at home. We know these babies have healthier outcomes."

Many benefits are ascribed to breast-feeding during the first six months of life. Breast milk contains the nutrients that infants need to grow, as well as antibodies that help them ward off infections.

Health experts say it also reduces the risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma and obesity. In addition, women who breast-feed their babies are at lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

In California, the Department of Public Health provides guidelines to hospitals for promoting breast-feeding and emphasizes exclusive breast-feeding because it influences whether the baby continues to breast-feed at home.

While nearly 87 percent of California mothers start breast- feeding in the hospital, the study found that many added formula to their babies' diets before they were discharged.

The WIC Association says one problem is the marketing by formula manufacturers in hospitals. In some hospitals that assist women with breast-feeding, parents are given gift bags stuffed with formula samples, coupons and contest offers.

"It sends the wrong message," Farley said.