Benefits And Management Of Breastfeeding Mothers

When formula grew in popularity for supplementation in the 1950’s breastfeeding rates started to decline. In decades that followed, the rates continued to decreased drastrically. Physicians stopped recommending breastfeeding to mothers and at one point thought it was unnecessary. As a result, mothers chose formula over breastmilk. In recent years, the United States created goals for improving these statistics by 2020 (“Breastfeeding”). We are very close to achieving these on a national level. However, with these goals almost nationally met there is still significant room for improvement. The medical field is the best way to get the information to mothers about the benefits for mom and baby. Education would start during pregnancy, to teach the …show more content…
A “baby friendly” hospital must meet ten requirements to obtain this status. They must have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff, train all staff so they can implement the policy, inform all pregnant women about benefits and management of breastfeeding, help mothers initiate breastfeeding within an hour of birth, show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation even if they are separated from their infant, give infants no food or drink unless medically necessary, practice rooming in, encourage breastfeeding on demand, give no pacifier or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants, and foster the establishments of breastfeeding support groups and refer others to this group upon discharge(“Ten”) . According to the CDC 2014 report card that on average states with 5 or more baby friendly hospitals have about a 80 percent or higher rate of babies ever breastfed (“Breastfeeding”) (“Designated”). This is a huge step at almost reaching 100 percent breastfeeding rate. If more hospitals strived to get this it would be a tremendous step help mothers succeed with they 're breastfeeding …show more content…
After a woman gives birth she will be discharged within 24-48 hours on average. Before she was discharged she might have seen a lactation consultant and is starting to figure out the mechanics of breastfeeding. A woman 's’ milk normally doesn 't come in until 3 days postpartum. The first few days can be a stressful time, since many moms worry if they are making enough or why there babies are wanting to nurse constantly Even though this is a normal process they often fear they are not giving their baby what they need and decide to supplement. This is the time a woman needs a friendly reminded she is doing okay, and if diaper count is adequate she is doing perfect. When a woman is discharged from the hospital, a number to reach someone should given in her discharge papers. With this number the mom can call and ask questions until she has her first check up with the pediatrician within the next few