Human milk feeding has many positive health-related effects, yet some parents who wish to breastfeed or chest feed do not feel fully supported by the hospitals and professionals who provide maternity care. This measure is reported as an overall rate that includes all newborns who were exclusively fed human milk during the entire hospitalization. It was developed by CMQCC and initially endorsed by the National Quality Forum in 2008. The measure was re-endorsed as one of NQF’s Perinatal and Reproductive Health measures in 2016, and The Joint Commission is now its steward. In 2024, The Joint Commission updated the verbiage in PC-05 to be inclusive of donor milk and chest feeding, updating mention of breastfeeding to Human Milk Feeding.
