WASHINGTON, DC—Seventy-five percent of babies born in the United States in 2007 started life breastfeeding, meeting the nation’s Healthy People 2010 goal, according to CDC.

However, the number of babies who continue breastfeeding until six and 12 months was not sustained. Only 43% are still breastfeeding at six months and only 22% are breastfeeding at 12 months. National Healthy People 2010 objectives call for 50% of new mothers to continue breastfeeding for six months and 25% to continue for one year.

“Meeting the national breastfeeding initiation goal is a great accomplishment in women’s and children’s health, but we have more work ahead,” said William Dietz, MD, PhD, director of CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. “We need to direct even more effort toward making sure mothers have the support they need in hospitals, workplaces, and communities to continue breastfeeding beyond the first few days of life, so they can make it to those six and 12 month marks.”

Breastfeeding at six months of age ranged from over 62% in Oregon to about 20% in Louisiana. Breastfeeding at 12 months ranged from nearly 40% in Oregon and Vermont to 8% in Mississippi.

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