Role of health care professionals in supporting breastfeeding
Role of health care professionals in supporting breastfeeding
Health care professionals and pediatricians can make the difference between mothers choosing breast milk for their babies and mothers choosing formula milk for their babies, that is, the role they play in this area can indirectly affect the baby’s long term health. The presence of properly educated and well informed health care experts in cities, towns and villages is important to widely advocate the practice of breastfeeding.
First of all, health care experts should get to know the pregnant women in their area, their medical condition and keep track of their progress. They should visit the mothers regularly during pregnancy and talk to them about breastfeeding, pointing out its benefits and long term effects; highlighting its requirements and techniques, ways to increase milk production and inform them about the release of hormones (prolactin and oxytocin) which are good for relaxing, so that they can form their decision well before the delivery. They should also make clear the risks for the baby when the mother chooses not to breastfeed; greater risk of infections, medical conditions and later medical problems.
Breast milk strengthens the immune system of the baby, decreases the risks of various diseases that can affect the baby during breastfeeding or through childhood. It also reduces risks of infant mortality, gives long term health benefits to the baby and improves the bond with the mother. Breastfeeding is also beneficial for the mother and helps her lose pregnancy weight quicker, delaying ovulation and consequently, pregnancy, reducing risk of ovarian and breast cancer and improving the mother’s bond with the baby. In addition to this, breastfeeding has economic and financial benefits as well by reducing costs of formula milk by up to $1000 per household, and saving money that would be spent on hospital bills by reducing risks of illnesses in the baby. So, it is vital to inform parents about the various benefits of breastfeeding and to provide moral support to the mother during pregnancy, after delivery and throughout the breastfeeding period.
On the part of hospitals, they can participate in campaigns to advocate breastfeeding by increasing health care staff such as lactation coordinators, nurses or physician assistants to help mothers in initiating breastfeeding right after delivery, discourage the use of bottles and formula milk (except in special conditions) and to educate about breast pumps and its uses. To facilitate breastfeeding health care experts should first of all, assess if there are any contraindications present such as in infants with galactosemia, mothers with certain medical conditions, mothers using illegal drugs and mothers using certain medicines.
Health care experts should be present during and after delivery so that they can assist mothers in initiating breastfeeding, placing infant in direct contact with the mother, helping in latching, and advising mothers to breastfeed after every couple hours and pointing out different and optimal breastfeeding positions. After a caesarean birth, advise positions comfortable for the mother during breastfeeding and for premature babies, advise getting expressed milk to feed the baby using breast pumps should be given. Information about the types of breast pumps available and some of the famous brands producing manual and electric breast pumps such as Medela breast pump producing Medela style and Medela style advanced breast pumps.
After the mother and baby have been discharged from the hospital, health experts should pay a visit in the first week to weight the infant, perform a physical examination, inquire about breast problems (engorgement, soreness etc.), inquire about the infant’s bowel movements and take notice of mother’s breastfeeding practices. Another visit should be paid after 2 to 3 weeks pointing out positive progress of the baby and discouraging any introduction of complementary foods at this point. Educating the mother about the appropriate time of adding complementary foods to the baby’s diet; listing the necessary nutrients and advising about food items good for baby’s growth and development should also be a part of the responsibility of health care experts at hospitals. Educating the mother about vitamin and mineral supplements and if the mother or baby are not doing well at any point, they should be referred to a lactation expert or support group immediately.
Discussing the mother’s plans of returning to work and informing her of the methods to continue breastfeeding the baby efficiently while she will be away from the baby should also be part of their duty. Working moms should be encouraged to use breast pumps at this point as a way to increase milk supply to meet baby’s demands. Moreover, the health care experts must be fully prepared to answer questions concerning the frequency of breastfeeding, methods to check the amount of milk taken, ways to deal with nipple soreness and other problems. Apart from paying visits at home, it is also important to stay in touch with the parents through the telephone and answering any of their queries. Health care experts are a vital source of information for parents to carry out breastfeeding and baby care as efficiently as possible, information that might not have been available to them through any other source.
