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Print This PageOakland, CA
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What's Good
- Oakland is near Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Hayward, California, which is recognized as a Baby-Friendly Hospital by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for supporting breastfeeding.
- Just 2 percent of pregnant women here receive late or inadequate prenatal care. That's the 8th best score in our survey.
- 23.9 percent of Oakland mothers breastfeed their babies exclusively (meaning no solids, formula or other liquids) for 6 months or longer as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. That's among the top 6 percent of cities in our survey.
- 86 percent of Oakland mothers attempt breastfeeding. That's the 2nd highest percentage of any city in our report. Moms here are 16 percent more likely than average to try breastfeeding.
- Babies here are 26 percent less likely than average to be born prematurely.
- By six months of age, 49 percent of Oakland babies are still being breastfed. That's the 4th highest percentage of any city in our report.
- California allows greater dependent-related tax breaks than most.
- California has among the most generous family-leave and disability laws in our survey.
- California has particularly progressive laws guaranteeing a nursing mother the right to breastfeed in public.
- California stands out in a measure of legislation related to cord blood education, research and related issues.
- Compared to the number of babies born, Oakland has 20 percent more lactation consultants than average. That's the 8th highest ratio in our survey.
- Midwives are more widely available than most cities: With 7.4 midwives per 1,000 live births, Oakland has the third-highest ratio in our survey.
- Once Oakland mothers begin breastfeeding, they are 10 percent more likely than average to continue through 6 months. That's the 7th highest level of follow-through of any city in our report.
- Relative to the number of live births per year, Oakland has 25 percent more doulas than average--that figure is the 4th highest in our survey.
- The CDC reports very low infant mortality rates for California.
- The local climate is especially mild - perfect for getting out and working off pregnancy weight gain.
Needs Improvement
- According to the Urban Mobility Report from Texas A&M University, Oakland has one of the worst commutes of any city in our survey. It takes 54 percent longer to drive the same route during rush hour than in free-flowing traffic. That puts a lot more pressure on parents rushing to day care at the end of the day.
- Hospital costs here are among the highest in our survey.
- Housing in Oakland is less affordable than most places: When comparing household incomes to home values, a key measure of affordability, Oakland has the lowest ratio in our survey.
- Oakland's violent crime rate is 44 percent higher than average, the 9th highest in our survey, in fact.
