(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.
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