Breastfeeding Rates on Rise in America, Numbers Drop in Mexico Rebekah Marcarelli - Hngn
go to original August 2, 2013

Formula Feeding vs. Breastfeeding | Newborn and Baby Development (Howcast)

The percentage of U.S. breastfed babies continues to rise, which could improve future generations' health. Mexico has basically the lowest breastfeeding rate out of the larger nations, and the highest infant mortality rate.

The jump took place over the past decade, since 2000 breastfeeding rates in early postpartum stages have increased from 71 percent to about 77 percent, LiveScience reported.

... In Mexico, the breastfeeding rate has actually dropped dramatically over the past six years. Now only one in seven Mexican mothers breastfeed their babies, the AP reported.

Experts have gone as far as to refer to the drop as a "public health crisis." Mexico also has the highest infant mortality rate among the world's larger economies.

"Mexico has become the example of what not to do. It's the strongest case of a setback in breast-feeding," Marcos Arana Cedeno, a child nutrition expert and health adviser for the state of Chiapas, said.

Experts are blaming increased baby food advertising, little formula regulation, and lack of breastfeeding recommendations from doctors, for the dramatic drop.

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