American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Pediatrics, Work Group on Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics Dec 1997; 100(6): 1035-1041
"Human milk is uniquely superior for infant feeding and is species-specific; all substitute feeding options differ markedly from it. The breastfed infant is the reference or normative model against which all alternative feeding methods must be measured with regard to growth, health, development, and all other short- and long-term outcomes."
Extensive research shows that human milk and breastfeeding provide compelling
advantages to infants, mothers, families and society, including nutritional, developmental, health, immunologic, psychologic, social, economic and environmental benefits.
Recommended Breastfeeding Practices:
- Human milk is the preferred feeding for all infants, including premature and sick newborns, with rare exceptions.
- Breastfeeding should begin as soon as possible after birth, usually within the first hour.
- Newborns should be nursed whenever they show signs of hunger, such as increased alertness or activity, mouthing, or rooting. Crying is a late indicator of hunger. Newborns should be nursed approximately 8 to 12 times every 24 hours until satiety, usually 10-15 minutes on each breast.
- Supplements and pacifiers should be avoided whenever possible and, if used at all, only after breastfeeding is well established.
- When discharged < 48 hours after delivery, all breastfeeding mothers and their newborns should be seen by a pediatrician or other knowledgeable health care practitioner when the newborn is 2 to 4 days of age.
- Babies should be exclusively breastfed for approximately the first 6 months of life, with continued breastfeeding (and gradual introduction of complementary foods) for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired.
- Should hospitalization of the mother or infant be necessary, every effort should be made to maintain breastfeeding, preferably directly, or by pumping the breasts and feeding expressed breast milk, if necessary.
Role of Pediatricians in Promoting and Supporting Breastfeeding.
Pediatricians should:
- Promote and support breastfeeding enthusiastically.
- Become knowledgeable and skilled in both the physiology and the clinical management of breastfeeding.
- Work collaboratively with obstetricians to ensure women receive adequate information to make a fully informed decision about infant feeding.
- Promote hospital policies and procedures that facilitate breastfeeding. Electric breast pumps and private lactation areas should be available.
- Become familiar with local breastfeeding resources (eg, WIC, lactation educators and consultants, lay support groups, breast pump rental stations) for appropriate patient referrals.
- Encourage routine insurance coverage for breastfeeding services and supplies, including breast pump rental and consultation time.
- Promote breastfeeding as a normal part of daily life, encouraging family and societal support for breastfeeding.
- Develop and maintain effective communications and collaboration with other health care providers to ensure optimal education and support for breastfeeding families.
- Advise mothers to return to their physician for a breast exam after weaning.
- Promote breastfeeding education in medical school and residency education.
- Encourage positive media portrayal of breastfeeding.
- Encourage employers to provide facilities and time in the workplace for breast-pumping.
For further information visit:
San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition website at: www.breastfeeding.org
AAP website at: www.aap.org or the journal Pediatrics at: www.pediatrics.org
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