Charlotte, N.C. - As if the pressure and guilt associated with being a mom wasn't high already!

Now some doctors are calling the need to breast feed a public health issue.

A new study out says breast-feeding would save billions in dollars and hundreds of lives if mothers did it exclusively for six months.

Ashley Petronzio knows the challenges of being a mom, she has 4 kids, the youngest is only 3 months.

"I think a lot of moms get stuck in a rut, they are feeling down because a lot is changing as a new mom."

She has breast fed all her children, but knows it's not easy.

"The biggest challenge I can say after 4 kids is finding the time to sit down and breast feed my child."

A new study by the Journal Pediatrics claims 13 billion dollars and close to 1000 lives could be saved if 90 percent of women breast fed exclusively for 6 months.

Gretta Blythe is manager of Lactation Services at Presbyterian hospital, she says the benefits of breast feeding are evident for children.

"Our role is not to make mothers feel guilty, it's just to make sure they have the education to make informed decisions."

It becomes harder for women when they go back to work, finding time or a private place to express the milk for later.

As for Ashley, she has an advantage over many moms, she works part time as a lactation consultant. She has a room and gets to take time to save her milk for her new son.

"Figuring out how to get a good supply when you are away from the baby and maintain it is challenging, I'm hoping employers are really going to start respecting breast-feeding and pumping."

In the new health care bill, companies with more than 50 employees must provide a private place, other than a rest room, and time for a mother to express breast milk for a nursing child up to 1 year old.