Breastfeeding in the United States: Strategies to Support Families and Achieve National Goals
2025

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Breastfeeding supports lifelong health and development for both infants and mothers. It is associated with lower risks of chronic disease, improved maternal health outcomes, and potential health care cost savings. While most families in the United States begin breastfeeding, many are unable to continue as long as they intend due to systemic challenges such as limited parental leave, inconsistent access to lactation support, and inadequate workplace accommodations.

The report Breastfeeding in the United States: Strategies to Support Families and Achieve National Goals provides a roadmap for helping families meet their breastfeeding goals and improving population-level outcomes. It emphasizes the need for strong federal coordination, comprehensive health care and community-based support, and inclusive public policies. Using a life course perspective, the report identifies key intervention points that begin before birth and continue through the return to work or school.

To meet national breastfeeding objectives and improve health equity, the report recommends expanding effective community-based interventions, improving access to high-quality care, enacting supportive policies such as paid family leave, and investing in coordinated research. With sustained leadership and investment, families across the country can have the support they need to achieve their infant feeding goals and help the nation move closer to reaching the Healthy People 2030 targets.

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Publication information

280 pages · 6 x 9 · paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-99192-7
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-99190-0
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/29118

Suggested citation

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Breastfeeding in the United States: Strategies to Support Families and Achieve National Goals. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Front Matter i-xviii
Summary 1-15
1 Introduction 16-30
2 The Importance of Breastfeeding Across the Life Course 31-78
3 Breastfeeding in the Community Context 79-112
4 Federal and State Policies and Programs: Coordinating Public Health Approaches and WIC 113-145
5 Messaging, Media, and Marketing 146-170
6 Breastfeeding and the U.S. Health Care System 171-198
7 Payment and Financing of Breastfeeding Services and Supplies 199-220
8 Return to Work and School 221-253
9 Exploring Research Needs and Future Implementation 254-262

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Breastfeeding in the United States: Strategies to Support Families and Achieve National Goals (2025)

Chapter: 6 Breastfeeding and the U.S. Health Care System

Additional materials

Publication information

Suggested citation

My Academies

Breastfeeding in the United States: Strategies to Support Families and Achieve National Goals (2025)

Chapter: 6 Breastfeeding and the U.S. Health Care System