Genesee County Health Department
Better Life Through Better Health

Release Date:     September 24, 2010       End Date:  September 30, 2010

Contact Person:    Marcia Franks, Public Health Supervisor

Phone:      (810) 257-3202

RE:          Breastfeeding Initiation Challenge

The Genesee County Breastfeeding Coalition is pleased to recognize Genesys Regional Medical Center, Hurley Medical Center and McLaren Regional Medical Center for their outstanding efforts in a recent challenge to staff to increase breastfeeding initiation rates among patients. Based on self-reports, between May 9 and July 31, the three hospitals increased their combined breastfeeding rates by 18.7%.

Following kick-off trainings from Genesee County Health Department staff, hospital nurses were asked to emphasize current practices with new moms to initiate breastfeeding after delivery with the goal of increasing current breastfeeding initiation rates. In addition to hearing about the county’s historically low breastfeeding rates at the trainings (46.5% from a three-month sample of birth certificate data), hospital staff were provided information about local breastfeeding resources, recent research findings and little known breastfeeding facts. The Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention set a goal in Healthy People 2010 to increase breastfeeding to 75% by 2010.

During the three-month challenge, Nurses and Lactation Consultants from each of the hospitals collected short questionnaires from patients to determine whether they were breastfeeding or pumping breastmilk, and reasons why they didn’t breastfeed if they had planned to initially. Mothers who planned to breastfeed and did not indicated in the questionnaire they were too tired, had trouble with the infant latching on, thought it would be too inconvenient and use of medications.

Promoting and supporting breastfeeding is important because of its considerable health benefits. When infants are breastfed they are less likely to have ear infections, respiratory infections, asthma, obesity, and diabetes. Breastfed infants are also at less risk for sudden/unexpected death. According to an April 2010 Pediatrics journal article, if 80% of U.S. families complied with medical recommendations to exclusively breastfeed for six months, 741 deaths would be prevented and $10.5 billion would be saved.

This challenge is one of many activities undertaken by the Genesee County Breastfeeding Coalition. Formed in 2008, the Coalition has been successful in bringing together representatives from all three local hospitals, clinics, schools, public health and other human service agencies. The group has developed local materials to support mothers in their decision to breastfeed, established the Genesee County Breastfeeding Advocate of the Year award, sponsored a workshop for professionals and continues to focus on activities that will encourage families to choose breastfeeding for their infants. For more information, contact the Genesee County Health Department at (810) 257-3612 or visit the website at www.gchd.us.

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