Women definitely need support from all areas when it comes to breastfeeding.  (It doesn't help much if I tell them one thing but their husbands/moms tell them something else...it sends a very mixed message.)  It can make all the difference in the world as to their success.  I am a WIC peer counselor and it has been shown that peer counselors can make a big difference.  WIC also has a program to educate fathers about breastfeeding called " Fathers Supporting Breastfeeding."  I encourage dads to come to prenatal classes and I encourage them to come in when mom is having a problem too.  I'd love to start a class just for dads, but I'm not sure that's feasible at this time (or how populated it would be in this area.  LOL)  I know that part of our training is on cultural beliefs about breastfeeding and that some cultures tend to rely more on what dad (or grandma) thinks than what mom wants.  I love it when dads come to the classes though and I especially love it when they are interested and start asking questions!

I also know that when nurses are not knowledgeable about breastfeeding, it can sabotage that relationship from the start.  Our local hospitals are terrible in that regard and I wish WIC would let us do some sort of training for the nurses...just the basics if nothing else.  I can't tell you how many times a mom has told me that a nurse or doctor told her something ignorant that caused her more harm than good and it just infuriates me sometimes...but I just try to give mom the right information and hope that she trusts her instincts (because they're usually right on) over what the doctor or nurse told her.  Our regional breastfeeding coordinator was asked by a nurse at her local hospital "Why do you keep coming here?  Don't nobody want to breastfeed."  Wow.  Unfortunately, that attitude is much more common here than it should be.  You'd be amazed at the amount of nurses who believe that breastmilk is dairy and will tell moms not to give it while the baby has a fever!  ( I was actually told this about my daughter, but I've heard other women say they've been told the same by other nurses.)  At the risk of sounding biased, in my experience, it is often older nurses and doctors who are not as up-to-date on breastfeeding information that give this kind of bad advice, though I'm sure it comes from every age group.

Getting support definitely makes a difference in duration for many moms.  I know that someone much more experienced than I can give you statistics...I just wanted to put in my two cents.  

Gena Henderson
WIC breastfeeding peer counselor
South Carolina DHEC


> Date:    Thu, 19 Jan 2006 21:11:05 -0600
> From:    Megan Ruff <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Initiation and Duration of Breastfeeding with support
> 
>    Hello!  My name is Megan Ruff and I am a junior nursing student at
> the University of North Dakota=2E  I am currently taking my Childbearing
> Nursing II class and I will soon be doing clinicals on the OB unit=2E  I
> joined the Lactnet listserv a few weeks ago and have benefited from
> reading about many different interesting subjects=2E  I find Labor and
> Delivery exciting and have always had an interest in it!    =
> 
> One aspect of childbearing that I am very interested in is
> breastfeeding=2E  I know breastfeeding is very important in the first yea=
> r
> of life and it helps to reduce death=2C while also having many other
> positive impacts on the infant and mother=2E  I was interested in whether=
> 
> the initiation and duration of breastfeeding has anything to do with the
> support the new breastfeeding mother receives from her peers=2C family=2C=
> 
> and/or significant other=2E  I did some research regarding breastfeeding
> support and found many interesting facts=2E  In a study performed by
> Wolfberg et al=2E (2004)=2C expectant fathers were recognized as a great
> influence on whether an expectant mother decides to breastfeed or not=2E =
> 
> In this study=2C fathers who advocated for breastfeeding increased the
> chances that their partner would breastfeed the newborn infant=2E  =
> 
>    Another study done on couples=92 relationships and breastfeeding showe=
> d
> a positive association with paternal involvement in the care of the
> infant and support to breastfeeding and its maintenance when couples had
> a good relationship (Falceto=2C Giugliani=2C =26 Fernandes=2C 2004)=2E  =
> 
>    According to Dennis=2C Hodnett=2C Gallop=2C and Chalmers (2002)=2C the=
> 
> majority of mothers stop breastfeeding before the recommended 6 months
> post partum=2E  The major reason why most women stop breastfeeding is not=
> 
> maternal choice=2C but difficulty with breastfeeding=2E  In this study
> performed by Dennis et al=2E (2002)=2C significantly more women in the
> experimental group (peer support group) were still breastfeeding 3
> months post partum in comparison with the control group=2E  The peer
> support these women received in the study was over the phone=2E  Peer
> support also helped the mothers to evaluate themselves and their
> breastfeeding experience and a significant number of the participants in
> the peer support group stated that they would breastfeed their next infan=
> t=2E
>    I have read over previous posts in the archives and found one
> regarding a husband that was not supportive to his wife with
> breastfeeding=2E  He thought her pumping was adequate=2E  I also found ma=
> ny
> articles regarding the La Leche League as support groups=2C but I am
> interested in the initiation and duration of breastfeeding when a woman
> receives support=2E   =
> 
>    I have a few questions regarding this issue=2E  My questions are does
> your workplace or facility have a class for fathers to attend regarding
> breastfeeding and do you feel nurses should act as a support system by
> following up with new moms at specific time intervals=3F =
> 
> 
> Thank you=2C
> Megan Ruff=2C SN

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