My name is Kristi Hentges, and I am a nursing student at the
University of North Dakota. While researching topics pertaining to
breastfeeding, it became clear how important breastfeeding and the
promotion of it is.
We first must understand the importance of breastfeeding and what
it does for the infant and the mother. When a child is breast fed, they
have a lower chance of being diagnosed with otitis media, allergies,
diarrhea, lower respiratory tract infections, and bacterial meningitis
(DiGirolamo, Grummer-Strawn, & Fein, 2001). According to Sinusas and
Gagliardi (2001), children also have lower incidences of diabetes, iron
deficiency anemia, and SIDS, with a marked increase in intelligence in
later childhood and improved neuro development. Breastfeeding has its
advantages for mothers too. Delayed ovulation to allow for child spacing,
earlier return to pre-pregnancy weight, increased bone density, and
decreased incidences of ovarian and pre-menopausal breast cancer (Sinusas
and Gagliardi, 2001) to name a few. Breastfeeding is also cost effective by
reducing infant nutrition costs to that of extra intake for the mother, and
by fewer visits to doctors and hospital (Sinusas and Gagliardi, 2001).
Despite these facts, breastfeeding rates are significantly low. At
six months postpartum, a mere 29 percent of mothers (Sweeney, 2001), were
breastfeeding. According to Philipp, Merewood, Miller, and Chawla (1998),
slightly more than half of that were breastfeeding when their infant
reached one year. Looking at these numbers, the need for breastfeeding
promotion needs to be a high priority among all health care professionals.
Periods of longer breastfeeding depend on a proper start (Philipp,
Merewood, Miller, and Chawla, 1998). Education about breastfeeding should
begin during prenatal care. Breastfeeding needs to be encouraged
throughout an entire institution, including nurses, physicians, and all
other staff. Expectant mothers need to be educated on the benefits and
management of breastfeeding, and should be helped to start breastfeeding
within one hour after birth (DiGirolamo, Grummer-Strawn, & Fein, 2001). In
part of breastfeeding education, mothers should be shown how to maintain
lactation when they are apart from their child. After birth, rooming-in,
breast feeding on demand, and giving the infant no other source of
nutrition other than breast milk should be promoted (DiGirolamo, Grummer-
Strawn, & Fein, 2001).
Thank you,
Kristi Hentges, University of North Dakota
Digirolamo, A.M., Grummer-Strawn, L.M., Fein, S. (2001).
Maternity care: Implications for breastfeeding. Birth, 28 (2), 94-100.
Philipp, B.L., Merewood, A., Miller, L.W., & Chawla, N. (2001). Baby-
friendly hospital initiative improves breastfeeding rates in a US hospital
setting. Pediatrics, 108 (3), 677-681.
Sinusas, K., & Gagliardi, A. (2001). Initial management of
breastfeeding. American Family Physician, 64 (6), 981- 992.
Sweeney, R. (2000). Surgeon General’s report urges promotion of
breast-feeding. American Family Physician, 62 (12), 2575.
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