Support Breastfeeding (support + breastfeeding)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Making New Beginnings Great Beginnings: A Nurse-Run, Hospital-Based Clinic Promotes and Supports Breastfeeding and Its Duration

JOURNAL OF OBSTETRIC, GYNECOLOGIC & NEONATAL NURSING, Issue 2010
Professional Issues
First page of article [source]


Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) and perinatal development

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 4 2001
B Koletzko
This paper reports on the conclusions of a workshop on the role of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in maternal and child health The attending investigators involved in the majority of randomized trials examining LC-PUFA status and functional outcomes summarize the current knowledge in the field and make recommendations for dietary practice. Only studies published in full or in abstract form were used as our working knowledge base. Conclusions: For healthy infants we recommend and strongly support breastfeeding as the preferred method of feeding, which supplies preformed LC-PUFA. Infant formulas for term infants should contain at least 0.2% of total fatty acids as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 0.35% as arachidonic acid (AA). Since preterm infants are born with much less total body DHA and AA, we suggest that preterm infant formulas should include at least 0.35% DHA and 0.4% AA. Higher levels might confer additional benefits and should be further investigated because optimal dietary intakes for term and preterm infants remain to be defined. For pregnant and lactating women we consider it premature to recommend specific LC-PUFA intakes. However, it seems prudent for pregnant and lactating women to include some food sources of DHA in their diet in view of their assumed increase in LC-PUFA demand and the relationship between maternal and foetal DHA status. [source]


Developing evidence-based recommendations in public health , incorporating the views of practitioners, service users and user representatives

HEALTH EXPECTATIONS, Issue 1 2008
Mary J Renfrew
Abstract Background Guidance based on a systematic assessment of the evidence base has become a fundamental tool in the cycle of evidence-based practice and policy internationally. The process of moving from the formal evidence base derived from research studies to the formation and agreement of recommendations is however acknowledged to be problematic, especially in public health; and the involvement of practitioners, service commissioners and service users in that process is both important and methodologically challenging. Aim To test a structured process of developing evidence-based recommendations in public health while involving a broad constituency of practitioners, service commissioners and service user representatives. Methods As part of the development of national public health recommendations to promote and support breastfeeding in England, the methodological challenges of involving stakeholders were examined and addressed. There were three main stages: (i) an assessment of the formal evidence base (210 studies graded); (ii) electronic and fieldwork-based consultation with practitioners, service commissioners and service user representatives (563 participants), and an in-depth analytical consultation in three ,diagonal slice' workshops (89 participants); (iii) synthesis of the previous two stages. Results and conclusions The process resulted in widely agreed recommendations together with suggestions for implementation. It was very positively evaluated by participants and those likely to use the recommendations. Service users had a strong voice throughout and participated actively. This mix of methods allowed a transparent, accountable process for formulating recommendations based on scientific, theoretical, practical and expert evidence, with the added potential to enhance implementation. [source]


Hospital system costs of artificial infant feeding: estimates for the Australian Capital Territory

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 6 2002
Julie P. Smith
Objective: To estimate the attributable ACT hospital system costs of treating selected infant and childhood illnesses having known associations with early weaning from human milk. Method: We identified relative risks of infant and childhood morbidity associated with exposure to artificial feeding in the early months of life vs breastfeeding from cohort studies cited by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1997 as establishing the protective effect of breastfeeding. Data for ACT breastfeeding prevalence is assessed from a 1997 prospective population-based cohort study of 1,295 women. ACT Hospital Morbidity Data and DRG treatment costs were used to estimate the attributable fraction of costs of hospitalisation for gastrointestinal illness, respiratory illness and otitis media, eczema, and necrotising enterocolitis. Results: Although initiation rates were high (92%), less than one in 10 ACT infants are exclusively breastfed for the recommended six months, mainly due to supplementation or weaning on to formula within the first three months and the early introduction of solids by breastfeeding mothers. This study suggests the attributable hospitalisation costs of early weaning in the ACT are about $1 -2 million a year for the five illnesses. Conclusions and implications: Early weaning from breast milk is associated with significant hospital costs for treatment of gastrointestinal illness, respiratory illness and otitis media, eczema, and necrotising enterocolitis These costs are minimum estimates of the cost of early weaning as they exclude numerous other chronic or common illnesses and out-of-hospital health care costs. Higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding would reduce these costs. Interventions to protect and support breastfeeding are likely to be cost-effective for the public health system. [source]


Working mothers breastfeed babies more than housewives

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 4 2007
Chryssa Bakoula
Abstract Aim: To examine the prevalence and determinants of breastfeeding and to identify perinatal, sociodemographic, psychosocial and environmental factors associated with maternal infant feeding intention. Methods: A sample of 3734 Greek mothers that delivered their infants in 2000 was recruited in a longitudinal cohort study. Data on duration of breastfeeding was based on a questionnaire answered by 76.6% of the participants at 8,12 months postpartum. Results: The rates of any breastfeeding at 3 and 6 months were 52% and 24%, respectively. The corresponding rates of exclusive breastfeeding were 37% and 17%. From Cox regression analysis mother's intention to breastfeed for a short time and upbringing in the area of Athens were significantly associated with early termination of any breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding. A positive intention to breastfeed was influenced by maternal entitlement more than 6 months, delivery in autumn or winter, mother's upbringing abroad and previous breastfeeding experience. Conclusions: The rates of any breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding during the first year of life were fairly satisfactory. Programs to support breastfeeding are necessary and should encourage women to feel positive to breastfeed, focusing particularly on non-working mothers, mothers with a maternity entitlement less than 6 months and mothers who lack previous breastfeeding experience. [source]