Compared to most other states, more Georgia moms are deciding against breastfeeding, according to a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The "Breastfeeding Report Cards" by the CDC provide both national and state-level data on breastfeeding. The latest numbers consider the breastfeeding practices for U.S. infants born in 2013.
As mentioned in the study, experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months—meaning only breast milk and no other liquids or solids are given with the exceptions of vitamins, rehydration solution and other medicines.
The AAP also recommends that infants continue to be breastfed with the introduction of "complementary foods" for at least one year.
Nationally, the study found breastfeeding rates are on the rise with approximately 81.1 percent of American mothers breastfeeding at least once.
But in Georgia, breastfeeding rates saw a decline from 70.3 percent women breastfeeding at least once in 2014 to 69.2 percent in 2016, ranking Georgia No. 44 in the nation this year.
Compared to nine years ago, nearly 38 percent more Georgia women are continuing to breastfeed at six months and 11 percent more are breastfeeding at 12 months.
There was only a one percent increase in Georgia mothers breastfeeding at least once since 2007.
Of the mothers surveyed in Georgia for the 2016 report, nearly half (48.9) are breastfeeding at six months, 25.4 percent are breastfeeding at exclusively six months and 29.8 percent are breastfeeding at 12 months.
Compare that with the No. 1 state on the list: Utah. Among the infants in Utah, 94.4 percent were reported to be breastfed at least once, 70.4 at six months, 27 percent at exclusively six months and 42.6 percent at 12 months.
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