What CDC Is Doing
CDC’s Work to Support and Promote Breastfeeding
![People with computers gathered around a table](/congress115th/20181203224538im_/https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/about-breastfeeding/images/7-board-room.jpg)
We collect data to learn how best to improve breastfeeding rates in the United States by:
- Tracking how long infants are breastfed.
- Creating reports that show how well states and hospitals support breastfeeding mothers.
![Healthcare facility](/congress115th/20181203224538im_/https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/about-breastfeeding/images/8-hospital.jpg)
We promote best practices in health care settings by:
- Supporting the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, a global standard to promote breastfeeding in hospitals.
- Encouraging obstetricians, pediatricians [PDF-405KB], and nurses [PDF-363KB] to educate new moms about breastfeeding.
![A woman working on a her laptop.](/congress115th/20181203224538im_/https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/about-breastfeeding/images/9-worker.jpg)
We support mothers at work and in their communities by:
- Partnering with states to help employers support breastfeeding mothers with places to pump and store breast milk, flexible work hours, and maternity leave benefits.
- Promoting access to community supports like peer counseling and supplemental nutrition programs.
- Page last reviewed: May 7, 2018
- Page last updated: May 7, 2018
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