Hello all --

I just returned from a national level Nurse Practitioner conference and was
very frustrated by the two following experiences. I attended a lecture on
Asthma  update, and one on Obesity.

In the asthma one, presented by a nurse practitioner, breastfeeding was NOT
mentioned at all, until I asked about it during the question period at the end
 of the lecture (in the lecture, they did mention that cow's milk and soy
were  common allergens, but did not offer the suggestion that breastfeeding was a
 great alternative to preventing asthma). I asked, "you mentioned that cow's
milk  and soy are common allergens; doesn't the literature support the fact
that  breastfeeding is a key factor to prevent asthma?" Of course, the response
was  that breastfeeding has always been recommended!

The Obesity lecture was a keynote panel address in a plenary session,
meaning that all of the NPs at the conference were there. Only one of the three
panel members mentioned breastfeeding, and then only in a "by the way, ..." type
of comment. ARRGGHHHH!!

How do we expect to get mothers to breastfeed when the mid-level health  care
providers are so misinformed?? After this experience, I am rethinking my
dissertation ideas, to include something along this line...any  suggestions?

Kathy Rubin  in NJ
RN, C (Maternal/Infant), APN, C (Family Nurse Practitioner), LC
PhD  Candidate at Rutgers, NJ College of Nursing

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