"You can see a correlation for better outcomes for mothers and children," she said.

Some of the solutions don't have to be hard, Miles said.

"We talk about the 'lifesaving six' things in nutrition, and one of those is breast-feeding practices," she said.

And everyone needs to pitch in, she said. Certainly moms need to take the lead, but governments also need to establish friendly policies toward breast-feeding and companies need to welcome it.

It's one of the most important things that can save kids' lives, along with providing clean water, Miles said.

"It has to be everyone saying, 'This doesn't have to happen in our country.'"