Promote Breastfeeding in the Outpatient Setting: It's Easy!

The numerous benefits for both mother and baby of breastfeeding are evidence-based and well-defined. Breastmilk is the physiologic norm for infant nutrition, offering multiple health benefits and protections for mothers and babies. Although major medical and health organizations, which represent the health of women and children, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), American Academy of Family Practice (AAFP), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Public Health Service (NPHS), all recommend exclusive breastfeeding, few women meet the recommended goals for duration and exclusivity, despite high initiation rates. This article will discuss the barriers women face when breastfeeding. Strategies will be discussed on how physicians and health care providers can assist and advocate for their mothers while helping to improve the health of women and children. Physicians/pediatricians can support women and design interventions that can help patients' mothers overcome these challenges.