Best Beginnings through Breastfeeding - Supporting Hospitals to Improve Breastfeeding Rates

Depends on Where You Are Born: California Hospitals Must Close the Gap in Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates  

This report, issued October 15, 2008 by the University of California at Davis Human Lactation Center (UCD HLC) and sponsored by the California WIC Association (CWA), ranks nearly every hospital in the state in terms of the rate of new mothers who breastfeed while in the hospital. The analysis reveals stark differences in rates -- with a concentration of low-performing hospitals in Southern California counties -- and demonstrates that the breastfeeding gap is greatest in hospitals serving many ethnic low-income mothers and babies. But the report goes on to show that, when hospitals improve their newborn feeding policies and practices, they can dramatically increase their breastfeeding rates.  

• Los Angeles County Fact Sheet
• Fact Sheets for all California Counties

Los Angeles County Breastfeeding and Hospital Performance:

• County average breastfeeding rates: Any- 82.8% ; Exclusive- 24.1%
• Ranked 47th in the state for exclusive breastfeeding

• Nine hospitals ranked among the 15 worst in the state for breastfeeding rates:

  • Pacific Alliance Medical Center

  • Pacifica Hospital of the Valley

  • Bellflower Medical Center

  Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center

  • Valley Presbyterian Hospital

  • Beverly Hospital

  • St. Francis Medical Center

  • Garfield Medical Center

  • California Hospital Medical Center

Resources:

California In-Hospital Breastfeeding Data Tables

Providing Breastfeeding Support: Model Hospital Policy Recommendations Tool Kit to implement the Policies

Supporting Hospitals to Improve Breastfeeding Rates - Resource Guide

Other Reports:

2007 Hospital Report : A Fair Start for Better Health 2006 Hospital Report: Reducing Obesity Right From the Start