Much has been said about the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby throughout the life spectrum. Additionally, it is common knowledge that while most women initially choose to breastfeed, some will not succeed past the first few days. The question, then, is what can be done to close this gap. If most women want to breastfeed, but many do not succeed, it is important to determine which interventions are most likely to lead the majority of mothers and babies to success. A review of the research in the medical field specific to lactation management shows some interesting results.
A thorough examination of the data was presented in the Journal of Perinatology a few years back. In the article, the researchers compared the outcomes of several different types of lactation management care and support, from hospital-centered assistance by lactation nurses to home visits in the postpartum period, including phone consultations by a board certified lactation consultant. Surprisingly, the hospital-centered care did little to improve breastfeeding success rates. Even if the hospital-based care was followed by phone support, there was no increase in the breastfeeding duration of the women and no decrease in formula use. “In contrast, when post-partum home and phone contact were added,…100% of Intervention group women were breast-feeding at 4 weeks, compared to 68% in the controls, “ according to the report. Thus, the addition of in-home lactation care was shown to be the best strategy for improving breastfeeding rates. Additionally, it was pointed out that this type of intervention would serve to save significant amounts of money, both for the individual and for the general health system.
Luckily, here in the Fresno area, this type of in-home postpartum lactation care is available, with a board certified lactation consultant who makes house calls. The website www.tjlactation.com provides an overview of this service. In-home consultations include a thorough exam of mother and baby, an evaluation of the latch and milk supply, and an individualized plan of care to promote resolution of any problems. In addition to this unique service, there are support systems such as La Leche League and other support groups which also help mothers succeed. With so much care available locally, breastfeeding rates in Fresno should definitely improve.
Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?
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