Promoting Breastfeeding to Pediatricians

American Academy of Pediatrics program aimed at helping pediatricians encourage breastfeeding

As more and more benefits of breastfeeding are revealed through scientific studies, more pediatricians should support and encourage breastfeeding, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In order to increase the number of pediatricians skilled in the support and management of breastfeeding, the AAP is implementing a program called "Breastfeeding Promotion in Pediatric Office Practices."

The free program is designed to provide pediatricians with the latest scientific information about the benefits of breastfeeding and promotional materials, as well as suggested strategies for increasing breastfeeding rates among their patients. Funding for the program has been provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Maternal Child Health Bureau and the AAP Friends of Children Fund.

A 1995 survey by the AAP found that most pediatricians believed breastfeeding should be actively encouraged to all mothers, but that confusion and conflict were apparent in their practices and attitudes regarding breastfeeding promotion.¹According to the AAP, the goals of the "Breastfeeding Promotion in Pediatric Office Practices Programs" are:

"Effectively supporting breastfeeding is as important to preventative pediatric health care as promoting immunizations, car seat use, and proper infant sleep position," said Chair of the Project Advisory Committee for the Breastfeeding Promotion in Pediatric Office Practices program Linda Sue Black, MD, FAAP. "It is difficult for a busy pediatrician to stop and think through his or her daily routine and identify all of the potential opportunities for offering anticipatory guidance regarding breastfeeding concerns.

"It is also difficult to know which questions to ask to identify what type of intervention may help a mother with a breastfeeding problem. By developing easy-to-use brochures and reference materials and providing skilled staff support, the Academy intents to facilitate this process for office-based pediatricians. We hope the program will attract participants who have frequently thought they would like to be more supportive of breastfeeding but have not had the time or the resources to develop this interest."

The pediatric offices enrolled in the program receive a breastfeeding resource kit, which includes 10 steps pediatricians can take to help ensure successful breastfeeding among their patients. The kit also contains information on how pediatricians can incorporate breastfeeding into their anticipatory advice and guidance.

The number of pediatricians participating in the program, as well as their pro-breastfeeding efforts will be tracked, so the AAP can evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

Although the AAP is no longer accepting new pediatric practices into the program, the organization's Web site encourages people to check the site at www.aap.org often for the latest information on breastfeeding initiatives and activities.

Pediatricians interested in more information about the program can contact program administrators at:
Breastfeeding Promotion in Pediatric Office Practices Program
American Academy of Pediatrics
Division of Community Health Services
141 Northwest Point Blvd
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(847) 434-4779
breastfeed@aap.org

References:
¹ American Academy of Pediatrics, Division of Child Health Research. Findings from Periodic Survey of Fellows #30: Pediatricians' Practices and Attitudes Regarding Breastfeeding Promotion; February 1996; Elk Grove Village IL