“What is Measured Matters” and “What Matters should be Measured”

Abstract

Breastfeeding is unique to a woman, and as many women’s is
sues, has been relegated to the unrecognized and largely un
supported “women’s work” by our United States health care system 
and society. Breastfeeding is an important indicator and promoter 
of health status for both mother and child. Breastfeeding’s potency 
as a health indicator and protector of health makes it deserving 
of accurate and comprehensive assessment, documentation, and 
monitoring. Increasing breastfeeding continuation rates for greater 
dose-related benefits is part of our national Healthy People 2030 
goals, but we are underperforming and haphazard in breastfeeding 
data assessment and documentation needed to guide our actions in 
accordance with our goals. Accurate, comprehensive and real-time 
breastfeeding data is urgently needed in order to assess and man
age breastfeeding support resources and actions to increase breast