DEDICATED TO THE HEALTH OF ALL CHILDREN

Winner of Outstanding Chapter Award 1965, 1996, 2000, 2004 & 2009   

Schedule a free EPIC Breastfeeding Program

Barriers to Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding Benefits

Georgia Breastfeeding Rates

Infant Outcomes of Breastfeeding

Maternal Outcomes

Resources

Upcoming Seminars

Background

Breastfeeding is acknowledged as the preferred method of infant feeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, the National Healthy Mother/Healthy Babies and others.

Scientific research overwhelming indicates that breastfeeding is the superior method of feeding. Breastfeeding significantly lower rates of diarrhea, ear infections and lowers respiratory illness. There are a number of studies that show a protective effect of human milk feeding against necrotizing enterocolitis, sudden infant death syndrome, allergic disease, early childhood caries, insulin-dependent diabetes, and obesity. Developmentally, breastfed infants have better visual acuity, and evidence suggests that their cognitive development is very good!

Breastfeeding and H1N1

Babies that are breastfed have fewer illnesses.  We know that breastfeeding is protective against the flu virus so if you are breastfeeding, you should continue.  With the H1N1 we are not sure how breastfeeding is protective but we do know that mothers pass on protective antibodies to their baby when they breastfeed.   It makes sense to continue to breastfeed.

The CDC has made a statement about breastfeeding and H1N1.  “If you are breastfeeding, [and have H1N1] someone who is not sick can give your baby your expressed milk.  Ideally babies less than about 6 months of age should get their feedings from breast milk.  It is OK to take medicines to treat the flu while you are breastfeeding”.

Dr. Ruth Lawrence (chair of the AAP section on Breastfeeding) and Dr. John Bradley (AAP committee on Infectious Disease) suggest the following precautions:

1.      Wash your hands prior to contact with your baby

2.      Before breastfeeding, wash your breast with a mild soap and water

3.      Mom should wear a surgical  mask to avoid coughing or sneezing on the baby

4.      Use clean blankets between contacts with infant

They also mention that, “influenza virus does not pass through breast milk”.

For more information go to the CDC’s website @ http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/

Breastfeeding Benefits

Breastfeeding, Maternal & Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries – AHRQ Review Summary April 2007

•         Comprehensive, systematic review of studies conducted in developed countries

–        Screened >9,000 abstracts

–        43 primary studies on infant health outcomes

–        43 primary studies on maternal health outcomes

–        29 systematic reviews or meta-analyses covering approx. 400 individual studies

Breastfeeding, Maternal & Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries – AHRQ Review Summary April 2007

Infant Outcomes

•         Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of:

–        Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

–        Obesity

–        Type 1 and 2 diabetes

–        Childhood leukemia

–        Asthma

–        Acute otitis media

–        Non-specific gastroenteritis

–        Severe lower respiratory tract infections

–        Atopic dermatitis

_     Necrotizing entercolitis (NEC)

Maternal Outcomes

•         Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of:

–        Type 2 diabetes

–        Breast cancer

–        Ovarian cancer

–        Early cessation/not breastfeeding is associated with an increased risk of:

–        Postpartum depression

Barriers to Breastfeeding

Special attention should be given to barriers to breastfeeding for all women especially African American and other minority women.  Below are several barriers to breastfeeding that where identified in focus group findings.

• Embarrassment
• Lack of social support
• Worried about not enough milk
• Lack of support at work or school
• Worried about having to eat well
• Lack of information

Studies show that mothers who receive advice, information and encouragement from their physicians to breastfeed are more likely to breastfeed than those who do not receive such advice. The American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement outlines physicians’ roles in the promotion and protection of breastfeeding. View it on the web by accessing http://aappolicy.aappublications.org.  

Working and Breastfeeding

Studies show that returning to work after having a baby is a major barrier to mothers who want to breastfeed. Moms worry that their employer may not be supportive and provide break time that they would need to pump. They usually have questions about how to pump, how to store milk and how their co-workers will react when they need to take break time to pump.

There is now a well-researched program distributed by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Maternal Child Health Bureau to help these mothers make an informed decision.  The program is called “The Business Case for Breastfeeding”. Georgia was one of 10 states that received funding through the Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition to help implement this program. This funding was to train trainers to offer technical assistance to businesses wanting to start a lactation program.

The Business Case for Breastfeeding includes comprehensive resource kits that target breastfeeding mothers, employers, human resource personnel and others.  The kits or booklets help support a mother’s decision to continue breastfeeding after returning to work.  The program was developed in a train-the-trainer format to assist breastfeeding educators and breastfeeding coalition members to provide information and support to local business and their employers.  The goal is to increase awareness of the economic benefits of breastfeeding, increase the number of employers that provide a worksite breastfeeding support program and provide models for implementing a worksite breastfeeding support program. The information provided focuses on a company’s return on investment (ROI) in employee retention, productivity, decrease in absenteeism and job loyalty.

These resource kits are available free of charge from the US Department of Health and Human Services but it is recommended that employers receive information through those that have been trained to provide technical assistance in their implementation.  For more information you may contact Mary Nicholson-Jackson, the president of the Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition @ mnj03@comcast.net. You may also contact www.ask.hrsa.gov for a free copy of the brochures. 

Georgia Breastfeeding Rates 2006