§ 25-6-301 — Legislative declaration

Colorado § 25-6-301

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 25: Public
• Art.: Family Planning

Text

(1) The general assembly hereby finds
and declares that:

(a) The American academy of pediatrics recommends breast-feeding
exclusively for the first six months of an infant's life but continuing with other
forms of nutrition for at least the first twelve months of an infant's life and as long
thereafter as is mutually desired.

(b) The American academy of pediatrics has continuously endorsed breast-feeding as the optimal form of nutrition for infants and as a foundation for good
feeding practices. Extensive research indicates that there are diverse and
compelling advantages to breast-feeding for infants, mothers, families, and society.

(c) Epidemiologic research shows that breast-feeding of infants provides
benefits to their general health, growth, and development and results in significant
decreases in risk for numerous acute and chronic diseases.

(d) Research in developed countries provides strong evidence that breast-feeding decreases the incidence and severity of diarrhea, lower respiratory
infection, otitis media, and urinary tract infection.

(e) Research studies have also shown that human milk and breast-feeding
have possible protective effects against the development of a number of chronic
diseases, including allergic diseases and some chronic digestive diseases. In
addition, human milk and breast-feeding may prevent obesity.

(f) In addition, breast-feeding has been related to the possible enhancement
of cognitive development.

(g) Breast-feeding has been shown to have numerous health benefits for
mothers, including an earlier return to prepregnant weight, delayed resumption of
ovulation with increased child spacing, improved bone remineralization postpartum
with reduction in hip fractures in the postmenopausal period, and reduced risk of
ovarian cancer and premenopausal breast cancer, as well as increased levels of
oxytocin, resulting in less postpartum bleeding and more rapid uterine involution.

(h) In addition to individual health benefits, breast-feeding results in
substantial benefits to society, including reduced health-care costs, reduced
environmental damage, reduced governmental spending on the women, infants, and
children supplementary feeding programs, and reduced employee absenteeism for
care attributable to infant illness.

(i) Breast-feeding is a basic and important act of nurturing that should be
encouraged in the interests of maternal and infant health.

(2) The general assembly further declares that the purpose of this part 3 is
for the state of Colorado to become involved in the national movement to recognize
the medical importance of breast-feeding, within the scope of complete pediatric
care, and to encourage removal of societal boundaries placed on breast-feeding in
public.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2004: Entire part added, p. 596, � 1, effective April 23.