The Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC™) Survey is a vital national tool conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It plays a crucial role in promoting best practices for supporting breastfeeding and optimal infant nutrition in maternity hospitals and birth centers across the United States. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, parent, or policymaker, understanding the mPINC Survey’s scope, purpose, and impact can help improve infant health outcomes and reflect on the quality of maternity care nationwide.
What Is the mPINC Survey?
The mPINC Survey is a comprehensive and biennial assessment designed to collect information on maternity care practices related to infant feeding. Funded and managed by the CDC, the survey targets all U.S. maternity facilities and gauges how well hospitals support breastfeeding and infant nutrition. Since its inception in 2007, mPINC has provided valuable data to drive improvements in maternal and infant care nationwide.
Key Goals of the mPINC Survey
- Assess hospital practices and policies promoting optimal infant nutrition and breastfeeding support.
- Identify trends and changes in maternity care over time.
- Help hospitals benchmark their performance against similar facilities.
- Guide state and national initiatives aimed at improving breastfeeding rates and infant health outcomes.
Why Is the mPINC Survey Important?
Breastfeeding is widely recognized for its numerous health benefits for both infants and mothers. However, successful breastfeeding depends heavily on the support mothers receive immediately before, during, and after childbirth. mPINC Survey data reflects hospital and birth center commitment to breastfeeding-friendly practices, giving insights into areas that need improvement.
Through regular data collection, the mPINC Survey:
- Encourages evidence-based maternity practices aligned with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Supports healthcare providers with feedback and resources to enhance maternal and infant nutrition care.
- Informs policymakers to craft targeted programs that support breastfeeding and reduce infant health disparities.
Components and Topics Covered by the mPINC Survey
The mPINC Survey contains a detailed set of questions that cover multiple dimensions of infant nutrition and maternity care practices. Hospitals report on their policies, education programs, and clinical practices related to infant feeding.
Core Areas Included in the Survey
- Labor and Delivery Practices: Skin-to-skin contact, initiation of breastfeeding immediately after birth, and management of formula supplementation.
- Feeding of Breastfed Infants: Encouragement and support of exclusive breastfeeding, rooming-in policies, and lactation consultant availability.
- Staff Training and Competency: Education provided to maternity care staff about breastfeeding support and infant nutrition.
- Mother-Infant Postpartum Care: Policies supporting breastfeeding duration, discharge planning, and follow-up support.
- Facility Assessment and Quality Improvement: Monitoring breastfeeding rates and implementing hospital policies aligned with the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.
How Hospitals Benefit from Participating in mPINC
Participation in the mPINC Survey offers numerous benefits to hospitals and birth centers that aim to improve maternity and infant care services:
- Benchmarking Performance: Hospitals receive customized feedback reports that compare their results to national and state averages.
- Driving Quality Improvement: Identifying strengths and weaknesses helps streamline efforts to improve breastfeeding support and related care.
- Building Recognition: Showcasing commitment to best practices enhances hospital reputation among families and healthcare professionals.
- Supporting Accreditation Efforts: Data aids hospitals pursuing designation as Baby-Friendly, a recognized standard for breastfeeding-friendly policies.
Practical Tips for Hospitals Inspired by mPINC Survey Findings
Based on trends and best practices highlighted in mPINC Survey results, maternity centers can adopt actionable steps to enhance infant nutrition care:
- Implement Skin-to-Skin Contact Immediately After Birth: Encouraging uninterrupted mother-baby skin contact helps initiate breastfeeding sooner.
- Provide Ongoing Staff Education: Regular training ensures staff are confident and competent in lactation support.
- Promote Rooming-In Policies: Allowing mothers and infants to stay together 24/7 encourages sustained breastfeeding.
- Minimize Formula Supplementation: Use formula only when medically necessary and ensure proper documentation and counseling when supplementation occurs.
- Establish Comprehensive Discharge Planning: Provide mothers with breastfeeding resources, follow-up appointments, and community support contacts.
Case Study: Improving Breastfeeding Rates Through mPINC Data Utilization
A mid-sized hospital in the Midwest participated in the mPINC Survey and discovered that although they supported breastfeeding initiation well, exclusive breastfeeding rates at discharge lagged behind national averages. Using their customized survey report, the maternity leadership team:
- Increased lactation consultant hours to provide individualized mother support.
- Revised hospital policy to discourage routine formula supplementation.
- Implemented breastfeeding education classes for new mothers before discharge.
- Collaborated with local community organizations to offer enhanced postpartum breastfeeding support.
Within one year, exclusive breastfeeding rates at discharge increased by 15%, and patient satisfaction scores rose notably. This example underscores how mPINC data can be a catalyst for meaningful maternity practice improvements.
Firsthand Experience: A Lactation Consultant’s Perspective
“Working in a hospital that participates in the mPINC Survey has been a game-changer for our care team. The insights from the survey help highlight exactly where our policies shine and where we need to improve. It’s rewarding to see how data-driven changes lead to more confident moms and healthier babies.” – Jessica M., Certified Lactation Consultant.
How to Access mPINC Survey Results
The CDC publicly shares mPINC Survey reports and results online. These reports provide valuable insights by state, hospital type, and survey year, making the data accessible for healthcare advocates, researchers, and families interested in maternity care quality.
Keywords to Know
- mPINC Survey
- CDC Maternity Practices
- Infant nutrition and care
- Breastfeeding support in hospitals
- Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative
- Maternity care best practices
- Hospital breastfeeding policies
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information, visit CDC mPINC Survey page.