Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA.
Breastfeed Med. 2012 Jun;7(3):151-4. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2011.0045. Epub 2011 Dec 7.
During medical school and residency training, physicians are taught that breastfeeding is the preferred feeding for all infants, with rare exceptions. But evidence is accumulating that while physician mothers have a high rate of breastfeeding initiation, they face significant obstacles to sustained breastfeeding.
In our academic medical center, we conducted a brief survey of physicians who have young children, to explore their own experiences with breastfeeding. The survey explored the physician-as-parent's own experiences with breastfeeding -- prenatal intentions, postnatal difficulties, ability to meet goals, emotions if goals were not met, resources for support pre- and postnatally, and ideas about what would have helped her breastfeed longer.
Two-thirds of the physicians who initiated breastfeeding had difficulties. Among those with difficulties, about three-fourths were able to resolve them.
Even mothers who are medical professionals experience, and often cannot overcome, difficulties with breastfeeding. Women in medicine need enhanced breastfeeding support and services/resources. Advocacy is needed, in our work environments, for better breastfeeding support not only for our physician colleagues, but also for all lactating employees within our institutions.
在医学院校和住院医师培训期间，医生们被教导母乳喂养是所有婴儿的首选喂养方式，除非有极少数例外。但有证据表明，尽管医生母亲有很高的母乳喂养起始率，但她们在持续母乳喂养方面面临着重大障碍。
在我们的学术医疗中心，我们对有年幼子女的医生进行了一项简短的调查，以探讨他们自己的母乳喂养经历。该调查探讨了身为父母的医生自己的母乳喂养经历——产前意图、产后困难、实现目标的能力、未实现目标时的情绪、产前和产后的支持资源，以及她认为有助于她延长母乳喂养时间的想法。
三分之二开始母乳喂养的医生都遇到了困难。在有困难的医生中，约四分之三能够解决这些困难。
即使是医学专业的母亲也会经历母乳喂养的困难，而且往往无法克服这些困难。从事医学工作的女性需要增强母乳喂养的支持以及服务/资源。我们需要在工作环境中倡导，为我们的医生同事以及我们机构内所有哺乳期员工提供更好的母乳喂养支持。
