Oklahoma ranks #23 out of 50 states for the number of infants exclusively breastfed through 6 months as of 2022. Nebraska has the highest rate of infants exclusively breastfed for six months at 36.7 percent. Georgia had the lowest, at 13.8 percent.
Percentage of infants exclusive breastfeeding through 6 months in 2022.
Source: CDC NIS Survey
Exclusive breastfeeding refers to the practice of feeding a baby only breast milk, without the introduction of any other liquids or solids. This means that the infant receives only breast milk from their mother or a donor, and no other food or drink, including water, formula, or other supplements.
Breastfeeding is more than just a lifestyle choice – it directly impacts health outcomes for mothers and babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for approximately 6 months, followed by continued breastfeeding with complementary foods for at least 2 years and beyond, as mutually desired, as best practice.
Numerous benefits have been linked to EBF. For mothers, this includes a lowered risk for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and breast or cervical cancer. In babies, EBF has been found to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), childhood cancers, and common illnesses like ear, respiratory, and gastrointestinal infections.
Despite the benefits, rates of EBF remain consistently low. Nationally, 85% of babies are breastfed at some point in their lives, yet less than half (47.6%) are exclusively breastfed for the first 3 months of life, and an even smaller percentage (27.9%) are exclusively breastfed up until 6 months of age (the recommendation by AAP). Oklahoma mirrors national patterns. In 2022, 45.6% of infants received EBF in their first 3 months, with only 28% continuing EBF till the six-month mark.
EBF varies among women in Oklahoma. According to a report from the 2019 Oklahoma Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, mothers of preterm infants have lower rates of EBF (39.1) than those with infants born to term (49.1). Further, it was found that Non-Hispanic White women have higher rates of EBF (51.5%) for term infants in their first 8 weeks of life, followed by multiracial individuals at 50.5%, and American Indian/Alaska Native women at 48.7%. Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic mothers have the lowest rates of EBF in the state, at 47.7% and 43.3%, respectively.
Increasing breastfeeding rates is a major objective of the Oklahoma State Department of Health as part of their efforts to reduce Oklahoma’s tragically high infant mortality rate (see Infant Mortality). If 80% of Oklahoma infants were exclusively breastfed for the first six months, it would save 28 maternal and nine child lives each year. In addition, it would save over $33 million in annual medical costs.
Breastfeeding rates/state rankings were determined using the most recent data (2019-2022) released from the CDC’s annual National Immunization Survey (NIS). The NIS is conducted via telephone using random digit dialing to survey households. Final recorded values include a confidence interval, which varies by state. Some data were collected across 2020–2021, during which health outcomes and data collection abilities were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Because of the pandemic, 17.9% of hospitals reported that in-person lactation support decreased, and 72.9% reported discharging mothers and their babies less than 48 hours after birth. Therefore, rates of EBF within the dataset used throughout this section may be slightly over/under-estimated.
Oklahoma has made progress addressing EBF. In 2024, the Oklahoma Breastfeeding Resource Center – a program at OU Health Sciences campus in OKC – received a grant from the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) to extend its services to 10 rural hospitals in the state. Funding for projects such as breastfeeding education and baby-friendly hospital designation (see Baby Friendly Hospitals) is crucial for encouraging EBF for mothers within hospital settings and upon returning home after giving birth, as well as reducing disparities.
This issue brief was written by Metriarch staff as part of our Data Lookbook.
Suggested citation
Metriarch. “Maternal and Child Health,” Data Lookbook (2025). URL: metriarchok.org/exclusive-breastfeeding.
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