CDC: Utah leads U.S. for breast-feeding

A new government report says Utah leads the nation in breast-feeding with 9 in 10 Utah mothers trying it and about 6 in 10 sticking with it for at least six months.

Overall, about three out of four babies in the U.S. get at least some breast-feeding, but only a fraction continue as long as six or 12 months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say those findings are  similar to previous CDC studies.

Western states tended to have the highest rates. Mississippi ranks lowest, with only about half of that state’s mothers attempting breast-feeding.

The CDC report released Monday is based on phone interviews in 2007 of caregivers of toddlers.