TAMPA, Fla. — According to the World Health Organization, approximately 140 million newborns enter the world each year.

Despite the potential benefits of exclusively breastfeeding, only an estimated 48% of these babies receive this form of nourishment. That's according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The percentage is even lower in the United States, where less than 25% of mothers continue to breastfeed at their baby’s six-month pediatric check-up.

Nurse Stephanie Spurling is a 20-year nurse and lactation consultant at Brandon Hospital. Spurling explained the barriers working moms face that could be contributing to the decline. 

“It became very personal to me," she said. "When I see firsthand how challenging it can be for these working moms, because sometimes it takes more than a month or six weeks for them to get into a perfect routine with breastfeeding, and then they go back to work and have to be able to pump for their babies."

Nurses and physicians at the Brandon Hospital are spending extra time this month emphasizing the benefits of breastfeeding and offering extra support.

The hospital provides a room for new moms to pump while at work. Free lactation consultants are provided to employees to help them return to work while breastfeeding.

And a breastfeeding class is open to employees and the community.

Jaddeliz Vasquez is one of those taking part in the hospital's effort as she celebrates a milestone for her newborn son.

“Today he’s two months old, he’s been doing really nice,” she said.

He’s currently in the NICU at Brandon Hospital, where he was born prematurely at 27 weeks. 

“This is my first baby,” said Vasquez.

The new mom drives an hour from Plant City to bond with her baby.

“I come every day to breastfeed,” she added. She said it’s essential for her premature baby.  

“I was planning on doing more pumping and breastfeeding. Since he’s a premie, I know that helps more with gaining weight,” she said.

It’s a difficult task for working mothers, according to OB-GYN resident Dr. Jessica Cooper, who is also a new mother herself.

“You know, it's always easier to talk about something when you have personal experience. So, now I feel like we can really relate on that level. And I can tell them, 'You know, I did this, you can do it,'” Cooper said.

Her long-term goal is to open a facility to educate families.

“My dream would be to have a clinic where I could have lactation support, prenatal support,” she said.

Dr. Bianca Karber is a neonatologist who says some new moms aren’t aware of the potential benefits of nursing.

“It protects them from infection,” she said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a mother’s milk helps provide antibodies that can protect a baby from illnesses.

Studies also show that some cancers and Type 2 diabetes are less common among women who breastfeed.

The CDC estimates that fewer than 50% of mothers continue nursing throughout their baby's first year. 

Jaddeliz says receiving extra support from the hospital has made her breastfeeding journey smoother.

“It is difficult sometimes,” she said. “I have to pull my schedule around but I think it’s worth it.” 

Though Jaddeliz gave birth earlier than expected, she says she’s now focused on what she can control — nursing her baby, leaving the NICU and finally bringing Adriel home.