Childhood Nutrition Research Group, Population, Practice and Policy Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Hospital for Sick Children, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Ann Nutr Metab. 2023;79(6):469-475. doi: 10.1159/000534004. Epub 2023 Sep 6.
Promoting and supporting breastfeeding is an important public health intervention with multiple benefits for both infants and mothers. Even modest increases in the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding could significantly reduce healthcare costs and improve maternal and child health outcomes. However, widespread adoption of breastfeeding recommendations remains poor in most settings, which contributes to widening health and social inequalities. Pediatricians have a duty to advocate for improving child health, including promoting and supporting breastfeeding.
This paper, from the International Pediatric Association Special Advisory Group on Nutrition, considers common barriers to breastfeeding and addresses how pediatricians can better promote and support breastfeeding, both at an individual level and by influencing practice and policy. All pediatricians need to understand the basics of breastfeeding, including lactation physiology, recognize common breastfeeding problems, and advise mothers or refer them for appropriate support; training curricula for general pediatricians and all pediatric subspecialties should reflect this. Even in the situation where their day-to-day work does not involve direct contact with mothers and infants, pediatricians can have an important influence on policy and practice. They should support colleagues who work directly with mothers and infants, ensuring that systems and environments are conducive to breastfeeding and, where appropriate, milk expression. Pediatricians and pediatric organizations should also promote policies aimed at promoting and supporting breastfeeding at local, regional, national, and international levels.
Pediatricians have a duty to promote and support breastfeeding, regardless of their day-to-day role and responsibilities. Pediatric training curricula should ensure that all trainees acquire a good understanding of breastfeeding so they are able to effectively support mothers in their personal practice but also influence breastfeeding practice and policy at a local, regional, national, and international level.
促进和支持母乳喂养是一项重要的公共卫生干预措施，对婴儿和母亲都有多种益处。即使母乳喂养的流行率和持续时间略有增加，也能显著降低医疗保健成本并改善母婴健康结果。然而，在大多数情况下，广泛采用母乳喂养建议的情况仍然很差，这导致了健康和社会不平等的扩大。儿科医生有责任倡导改善儿童健康，包括促进和支持母乳喂养。
本文来自国际儿科协会营养特别咨询小组，考虑了母乳喂养的常见障碍，并探讨了儿科医生如何在个人层面以及通过影响实践和政策来更好地促进和支持母乳喂养。所有儿科医生都需要了解母乳喂养的基础知识，包括哺乳生理学，识别常见的母乳喂养问题，并为母亲提供建议或转介以获得适当的支持；普通儿科医生和所有儿科亚专业的培训课程都应反映这一点。即使在他们的日常工作不涉及与母亲和婴儿直接接触的情况下，儿科医生也可以对政策和实践产生重要影响。他们应该支持直接与母亲和婴儿合作的同事，确保系统和环境有利于母乳喂养，在适当的情况下促进挤奶。儿科医生和儿科组织还应在地方、区域、国家和国际各级促进促进和支持母乳喂养的政策。
儿科医生有责任促进和支持母乳喂养，无论其日常角色和责任如何。儿科培训课程应确保所有受训者都能很好地了解母乳喂养，以便他们能够在个人实践中有效地支持母亲，同时还能在地方、区域、国家和国际各级影响母乳喂养实践和政策。
