Officials at the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) have released statements and evidence that are designed as interventions to support women who want to breastfeed their children.
The USPSTF shows that interventions raise the duration and initiation of breastfeeding among women. This is important because breastfeeding has significant benefits for infants and mothers: breastfed infants decrease the risk for various infections and chronic conditions, such as obesity, asthma and diabetes. New mothers who breastfeed have lower chances of ovarian cancer, breast cancer and type 2 diabetes, as well.
Various interventions should be implemented after birth and during pregnancy. The officials recommend primary care interventions that include directing women to resources that will help them with their breastfeeding, like mother support groups. The recommendations also apply to education pregnant women as well as their families about their choices for breastfeeding.
It is important to encourage and support women in their choices to breastfeed. Most of their support comes from their families and loved ones.
"Family physicians who don't feel comfortable providing this care themselves should have a relationship with a lactation consultant and/or a breastfeeding medicine physician for referrals, consultations," Anne Montgomery, who chaired the working group that developed the AAFP's breastfeeding position paper, said.
