Hospital Policy and Practices for Breastfeeding

Hospital Policy and Practice

Health-care providers, you play an important role in supporting breastfeeding. Maternity care policy and practices have been found to impact a mother's decision to initiate breastfeeding and how long she continues to breastfeed.

Click here to read the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) publications:

• Strategies to Prevent Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases: The CDC Guide to Strategies to Support Breastfeeding Mothers and Babies.

• Hospital Support for Breastfeeding: Preventing Obesity Begins in Hospitals

Resources on breastfeeding initiatives: 

Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

Ban the Bags Initiative

The Joint Commission’s Perinatal Care Core Measure Set with a core measure on exclusive breast milk feeding.

Professional Education

Interested in furthering your education to support breastfeeding. Below is a list of course options.

• United States Lactation Consultant Association, Who's Who? A glance at breastfeeding in the United States
• Information on how to qualify for the CLC and IBCLC exams: United States Breastfeeding Committee, Lactation support provider pathways information.