More than three out of four new moms now breast-feed their infants, the report said. About 77 percent of new mothers breast feed, at least briefly, up from 60 percent in 1993-1994, a survey found.
Experts attributed the rise to education campaigns that stress the importance of breast milk being better than formula at protecting babies against disease and childhood obesity. A changing culture that supports nursing mothers may also be a factor.
The new U.S. report is based on a comprehensive federal survey involving in-person interviews as well as physical examinations. The findings are based on information for 434 infants from the years 2005 and 2006.
The study also found that the rates have especially increased among mothers who are older and who have more money. Breastfeeding rates in 1999 to 2006 were significantly higher among those with higher income -- 74 percent compared with those who had lower income, 57 percent.
The report also found that breastfeeding rates among mothers 30 years and older were significantly higher than those of mothers under 20 years. However, women who are unmarried, poor, rural, younger than 20, and have a high school education or less had the lowest breastfeeding rates, the study found.
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breast feeding infants for the first six months of life.
