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"Breastfeeding saves lives and money. If 90 percent of mothers breastfed for six months, researchers estimate it could save nearly 900 infants and $13 billion a year." (CBS News)
But on CNN, one author of the study says structural support in the country will encourage more women to breastfeed.
"We really have to look beyond what families are doing because this is a much broader issue than that. The United States is the only developed country in the world without paid maternity leave. So that's one of the issues. We really need a bigger infrastructure to support our new families in the U.S."
On Salt Lake City's ABC affiliate, one professor says the country is moving in the right direction -- toward greater acceptance of breastfeeding.
ANCHOR: "Hudson says the idea of breastfeeding used to only be for people who couldn't afford formula. But now that numbers are showing a healthier outcome for baby, there's momentum in the right direction."
PROFESSOR: "We're now sort of turning that around, so that the higher your education, the higher your socioeconomic class in the United States, the more likely you are to breastfeed."
But on WVEC in Hampton Road, Virginia, one new mom explains that some women can't breastfeed for the first six months -- even if they want to.
"Yes, I tried. I absolutely tried. I really wanted to do it. I got all the stuff, the breast pump, everything. My husband was very supportive. It just, everything just dried up."
A blogger on Newsweek says women unable to breastfeed shouldn't be singled out for the loss of lives or money.
"I bet a lot of bottle-feeding mothers are going to...think: 'Great. Now I’m being blamed for billions of dollars in health care costs and 900 dead babies' ... Breast-feeding has some health benefits, but we shouldn’t blame mothers who don’t manage to do it long term because not everyone can."
So what do you think? Will the latest findings encourage more women to try breastfeeding?
Writer: Courtney Cebula
Producer: Newsy Staff
