BREASTFEEDING Breastfeeding is an important health indicator, especially for the CHOC Children’s population, because breastfeeding provides many benefits for healthy infant growth and development. Breastfeeding provides benefits to the mother as it can mitigate maternal risks of postpartum bleeding, post-menopausal osteoporosis, and cancer of the breast and ovaries.28 Additionally, breastfeeding helps the entire family with food security and income because the family income does not have to be spent on buying formula.
In-Hospital Breastfeeding of Newborns Orange California County Exclusive Breastfeeding 65.80% 69.80% Any Breastfeeding 94.80% 94.00% Source: Kidsdata.org, (2019)
In Orange County, the percentage of newborns who were exclusively fed breast milk during their hospitalization is 65.8%, less than that of California. The percentage of newborns who were breastfed exclusively and those who received both breast milk and formula was 94.8% in Orange County.
28
Orange County Children’s Partnership (2019). The 24th Annual report on the Conditions of Children in Orange County [Report].
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