Doulas Should Step Up to Help Breastfeeding Moms

Nearly 75 percent of U.S. hospitals do not fully support breastfeeding. According to the results of a national survey of maternity hospitals and birth centers conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2009- Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC)-the majority of mothers and babies are not getting the support they need to sustain breastfeeding after leaving the hospital. The CDC surveyed maternity care facilities to ascertain how many of them were implementing maternity care practices outlined by the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding recommended in the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. Implementing the Ten Steps improves the initiation, duration, and exclusivity of breastfeeding.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is highly concerned because infants who are breastfed are less likely to become obese and subsequently to develop elevated cholesterol and blood pressure levels, as well as breathing and joint problems. Mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop ovarian and breast cancer. The CDC estimates that suboptimal breastfeeding in the U.S. results in $2.2 billion in additional direct medical costs.

Although 92.8% of hospitals provided prenatal breastfeeding education, 89.1% taught new mothers breastfeeding techniques, and 81.8% taught mothers how to recognize and respond to infant feeding cues, less than 15% had a model breastfeeding policy. According to the report, a strong breastfeeding policy is the foundation of quality hospital breastfeeding support and sets standards for the remaining nine steps.

To the detriment of infants, more than 80% of hospitals gave healthy full-term breastfed newborns formula, water, or glucose supplements. Only 26.8% provided adequate breastfeeding support and community resources at hospital discharge. The majority of hospitals implemented only three to five of the ten recommended practices and fewer than 1% implemented all ten recommended policies and practices to promote and support breastfeeding.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding (breast milk with no solids or other liquids except vitamin/mineral supplements or medicine) for about the first six months of infancy and continued breastfeeding with iron-rich foods for at least the first year of an infant’s life.

To facilitate and encourage mothers to breastfeed The Affordable Care Act now includes new insurance guidelines which require insurance companies to cover breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling. Employers also must provide reasonable break time and a place, other than a restroom, that is private and clean for a mother to express milk.

To support breastfeeding and educate mothers and health care professionals about the benefits of breastfeeding, download the CIMS Breastfeeding Is Priceless: A CIMS Fact Sheet.

Maternity care professionals, employers and the community can help to promote and support breastfeeding by acessing the U.S. Surgeon General’s Guide, Call To Action to Support Breastfeeding and other educational material posted on the CDC website.

The Doula Business Advisor blog is designed to support the establishment and long-term sustainability of private doula businesses. Patty Brennan is the author of The Doula Business Guide: Creating a Successful MotherBaby Business.

Posted by Patty Brennan on December 13, 2011 • Filed under Doula Business Advisor
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