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As nurse-midwives since 1994, we have spent many hours counseling nursing women. We have seen great success in our own practice in the successful initiation and continuation of breastfeeding and feel other women will be receptive to our proven instructional methods. As you know, research continues to support not only long-term breastfeeding but exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life.(see 2 recent studies noted on next page) The American Academy of Pediatrics released a very strong policy statement in 2005 that insisted all healthcare professionals promote and assist the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding in all women. Promoting breastfeeding is in accordance with Healthy People 2010 recommendations. We support both the Mother and Baby Friendly Initiatives. Our fees are designed to be affordable for most families.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 117 No. 2 February 2006, pp. 425-432 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2283) Full Breastfeeding Duration and Associated Decrease in Respiratory Tract Infection in Children This nationally representative study documents increased risk of respiratory tract infection including pneumonia and recurrent OM in children who were fully breastfed for 4 vs 6 months. These findings support current recommendations that infants receive only breast milk for the first 6 months of life. W. Slusser Longer Duration of Breastfeeding Decreases the Risk of Overweight AAP Grand Rounds, December 1, 2005; 14(6): 67 – 68 PEDIATRICS Vol. 115 No. 2 February 2005, pp. 496-506 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2491) Policy Statement Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk Data indicate that the rate of initiation and duration of breastfeeding in the United States are well below the Healthy People 2010 goals (see Table 1). 4,125 Furthermore, many of the mothers counted as breastfeeding were supplementing their infants with formula during the first 6 months of the infant's life.5,126 Although breastfeeding initiation rates have increased steadily since 1990, exclusive breastfeeding initiation rates have shown little or no increase over that same period of time. Similarly, 6 months after birth, the proportion of infants who are exclusively breastfed has increased at a much slower rate than that of infants who receive mixed feedings.125 The AAP Section on Breastfeeding, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Family Physicians, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund, and many other health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life.12,127–130 Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as an infant's consumption of human milk with no supplementation of any type (no water, no juice, no nonhuman milk, and no foods) except for vitamins, minerals, and medications.131 Exclusive breastfeeding has been shown to provide improved protection against many diseases and to increase the likelihood of continued breastfeeding for at least the first year of life. Obstacles to initiation and continuation of breastfeeding include insufficient prenatal education about breastfeeding132,133; disruptive hospital policies and practices134; inappropriate interruption of breastfeeding135; early hospital discharge in some populations136; lack of timely routine follow-up care and postpartum home health visits137; maternal employment138,139 (especially in the absence of workplace facilities and support for breastfeeding)140; lack of family and broad societal support141; media portrayal of bottle feeding as normative142; commercial promotion of infant formula through distribution of hospital discharge packs, coupons for free or discounted formula, and some television and general magazine advertising143,144; misinformation; and lack of guidance and encouragement from health care professionals.135,145,146 RECOMMENDATIONS ON BREASTFEEDING FOR HEALTHY TERM INFANTS
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