According to the CDC for US children born from 2011 to 2018, only 25.8% of children are exclusively breastfed by the time they are 6 months old.
For babies that get any breastfeeding, by 6 months, only 56.7% are still breastfed.
This number is important because the cost of formula instead of breastfeeding is significantly more expensive, leading to a lack of good price options for moms who cannot breastfeed. There are ways to save up on baby formula through using a price tracker on Walmart and tracking Costco prices and buying in bulk when the price is cheaper. Some other good baby product stores.
These low rates are due to the many challenges new moms have while breastfeeding, such as poor latches, not high enough milk production, or inability to breastfeed due to work.
While a lactation consultant can definitely help, their cost can be expensive. However formula for a full year can be significantly more expensive than getting the right help from a lactation consultant.