FACT SHEET: SB 502
AUTHORS: SENATOR FRAN PAVLEY AND SENATOR KEVIN DE LEÓN
THE HOSPITAL INFANT FEEDING ACT
UPDATED APRIL 2011
THE PROBLEM
Many California hospitals do not have infant feeding
policies in place to help prevent the onset of chronic
health conditions and diseases, as well as later growth
and development problems, such as obesity.
Breastfeeding has been shown to have an impact on
obesity throughout the life span, while also contributing
to numerous other positive health outcomes.
Although nearly 90 percent of California mothers enter
the hospital intending to breastfeed, only about 50
percent leave the hospital breastfeeding exclusively.
Studies have shown that hospital practices can have a
dramatic impact on breastfeeding rates. Exclusive
breastfeeding rates increase when hospitals keep
mothers and babies together; promote skin to skin
contact; encourage feeding shortly after birth; provide
staff with education for breastfeeding support; and
avoid unnecessary formula supplementation.
BACKGROUND
A growing body of evidence indicates that early infant
feeding practices can effect later growth and
development in children, while significantly reducing
their risk for infections and chronic diseases such as
diabetes, asthma and obesity. Parents and care
providers are advised to learn and use healthy infant
feeding practices, especially for bottle feeding.
In addition, the United States Surgeon General, and all
the major health organizations including the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health
Organization
(WHO)
recommend
exclusive
breastfeeding for most babies, unless specifically
contraindicated, for the first six months of life and
continued breastfeeding, with the addition of
appropriate foods, up to at least one year of age.
A 2010 Harvard study found that the United States
would save $13 billion per year if 90 percent of infants
were breastfed exclusively for six months.
In April 2010, the Joint Commission, the accreditation
organization for hospitals, began including exclusive
breastfeeding rates as part of its Perinatal Care core
evaluation indicators for maternity hospitals.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) monitor
hospital practices at the state and national level. Their
benchmarks suggest that 10 percent or fewer of
breastfeeding infants should receive supplemental
formula. However, according to 2009 data presented in
a California WIC Association report - One Hospital at
a Time, Overcoming Barriers to Breastfeeding, January
2011 - fewer than 10 percent of CA hospitals reached
this goal. In eight CA hospitals, at least 90 percent of
the breastfed infants are given supplemental formula
during their hospital stay.
THE SOLUTION
In an effort to help parents receive the best information
for their baby’s early nutrition, SB 502 would require
all general acute care hospitals in CA with a perinatal
unit to have an infant feeding policy preferably based
on Baby Friendly USA or on the Department of Public
Health’s Model Policies. The policy must be clearly
posted, routinely communicated to all perinatal staff,
and would apply to all mothers and infants in a
perinatal unit. SB 502 will go into effect on January 1,
2014 (the same year federal health care reform is fully
implemented).
This bill is a modest approach that will help increase
the exclusive breastfeeding rates in California hospitals,
while giving the maternity hospitals a reasonable
amount of time to develop their infant feeding policies
and to educate their perinatal unit staff.
SPONSOR
 California WIC Association (CWA)
Contacts: Terri Cowger Hill, CWA Legislative
Advocate 916-952-3431 terricowger@aol.com
Karen Farley, CWA: 530-750-2280
Senator Fran Pavley
Fact Sheet
Contact: Elise Thurau or Deborah Hoffman at (916) 651-4023
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SUPPORT
 California WIC Association (CWA) –Sponsor
 The American Congress of Obstetricians &
Gynecologists (ACOG), District IX (California)
 Antelope Valley Hospital WIC Program
 American Red Cross WIC Program
 Babies First Breastfeeding Task Force Fresno
County
 Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles
 Butte County WIC
 California Breastfeeding Coalition
 California Center for Rural Policy
 California Food Policy Advocates
 Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula
 Community Medical Centers, Inc.
 County of Napa WIC Program
 First 5 Fresno County
 First 5 LA
 Kern County Breastfeeding Coalition
 Monterey County Coalition Healthy Mothers,
Healthy Babies
 Mono County WIC
 Native American Heath Center WIC Program
 Northeast Valley Health Corporation
 Orange County Breastfeeding Coalition
 Planned Parenthood WIC
 Public Health Foundation Enterprises, Inc. WIC
Program
 Sacred Birth Services
 San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition
 Solano County Health and Social Services WIC
Program
 Tulare County Breastfeeding Coalition
OPPOSITION
 None received
Senator Fran Pavley
Fact Sheet
Contact: Elise Thurau or Deborah Hoffman at (916) 651-4023
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