What Is Breastfeeding - Assignment Example

Benefits Breastfeeding has the potential to lower the risk for many illnesses in both the mother and baby. For example, breastfed infants have lessear infections, less respiratory infections, better digestive health, and a decreased risk for SIDS, also known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Some long terms benefits of breastfeeding for the child may include a lower risk for obesity and fewer overall illnesses, as breastfeeding has been shown to provide better immunological health in the child. Breastfeeding can also promote the mother’s health. Mothers who breastfeed their infants are less likely to develop type II diabetes, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding also contributes to weight loss in women after the birth of the baby. Often times, women fail to realize how beneficial breastfeeding is for the health of her baby and her own health. It is vital for women to understand all of the benefits in order to promote the utmost quality of health for mothers and babies. Swarts, Kruger, & Dolman (2010) in their study found that the mothers were aware that breastfeeding had a number of benefits such as provision of immunity, bonding with the baby, abundance of breast milk anytime for free, baby nourishment, and show of love. In a study on primary care professionals in North Dublin, Whelan, McEvoy, Eldin, & Kearney (2010) found that 76%, 92% and 79% of general practitioners, public health nurses, and practice nurses respectively agreed that exclusive breastfeeding was the most beneficial form of nutrition during the first six months of life. This admission by majority of primary care professionals on the benefits of breastfeeding is important for promotion of breastfeeding among mothers. One of the benefits of breastfeeding as noted by 87%, 96% and 89% of general practitioners, public health nurses, and practice nurses respectively was that a breastfed infant has increased immune function compared with a bottle-fed baby. Roles of Healthcare Providers Wheelan et al. (2010) found that 81%, 98% and 90% of general practitioners, public health nurses, and practice nurses respectively agreed that it was their responsibility to promote breastfeeding. This shows a higher admission and knowledge on the role of primary care professionals in breastfeeding education. Further, 33% of the respondents in a study by Swarts, et al. (2010) in South Africa noted that the health care professionals influenced their decision to breastfeed. Thus healthcare professionals have been playing a major role in encouraging mothers to breastfeed and this role is increasingly becoming important. One of the most important factors of breastfeeding promotion is education and assistance from hospital staff. However, the majority of health professionals (~63%) feel that mothers are not receiving adequate advice regarding breastfeeding. Wheelan et al. (2010) found most of the primary care professionals agree that mothers do not instinctively know how to breastfeed and this calls for the intervention of professionals to educate them on breastfeeding. Many studies show that by increasing education, support, and assistance to new mothers, the prevalence of breastfeeding can be increased. New mothers often experience barriers that eventually prevent them from continuing to breastfeed, such as problems with positioning, attachment and therefore nipple pain. With the proper support from professionals, these issues can be very easily fixed. However, the problem ultimately stems from the lack of such support from healthcare providers. Therefore, many women choose to resort to formula and both mother and baby are deprived of the bountiful advantages breast milk contains. HIV is an exception, because women who are HIV positive are forced to use formula, as their breast milk would transmit the disease to her baby. Research has shown that by implementing programs and support groups for new mothers, prevalence of breastfeeding can be increased. For example, in the study, “Breastfeeding: how to increase prevalence” by Jan Geddes, breastfeeding prevalence at the beginning was 60.5% in infants who were 6-8 weeks old. With the implementation of a program for mothers including support from healthcare professionals and encouragement from peers, breastfeeding prevalence increased to 67.45% in just one year (Geddes, 2012). This particular study is consistent with other literature. The 7% increase exemplifies the importance of executing such programs, as cessation of breastfeeding can be so easily reduced by helping a mother navigate simple difficulties. An important factor to ensure that women are receiving the most accurate information is to make certain that the healthcare providers are transmitting the most truthful knowledge. A considerable number of healthcare providers, especially men, feel that they have insufficient knowledge about this topic. However, knowledge of simply the most basic information can help address the possible complications. If experts effectively educate all healthcare professionals about breastfeeding promotion, healthcare providers can more efficiently transmit this information to new mothers in hopes to reduce illnesses for both mother and baby. In their desk review of literature on breastfeeding in the US, Perez-Escamilla and Chapman (2012) concluded that breastfeeding rates can improve based on a well coordinated social marketing framework. As Wheelan et al. (2010) found out, self-efficacy was strongest among the public health nurses with majority rating themselves highly in different skill areas. These were followed the general practitioners who were more confident in advisory services than in practical skills. The least knowledgeable were the practice nurses. Given that all primary health care professionals should educate mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding and show them how to do so for the mothers without the knowledge, it is important that they also understand the issues about breastfeeding. Myth vs. Fact There are many misconceptions about breastfeeding that are not true. It is important to educate mothers about the myths surrounding this topic in order to ensure that they are receiving only truthful information. For example, media often tries to convince individuals that the benefits of formula are equal to that of breast milk. This is simply not true, since breast milk contains an abundance of nutrients and antibodies only the mother can provide. Another misconception is the length of time a baby should be breastfed. Many women believe breastfeeding is only necessary for the first few weeks. However, breastfeeding is recommended at least for the entire first year of life, and sporadically thereafter until the child reaches around two years of age. Many women often believe that just because they have small breasts, or even breast implants, they are incapable of breastfeeding. This is also not true, as these women are just as capable of breastfeeding as any other woman. These are only a few of the many examples of existing myths that ultimately prevent women from breastfeeding. Such issues can be addressed with proper educational programs and surrounding misconceptions can be eliminated. Wheelan et al (2010) found that only 11%, 5%, and 3% of general practitioners, public health nurses, and practice nurses respectively agreed that breastfeeding was not feasible for a working mother. This confirms that the myth is not believed by many but is an issue that should worry the nursing profession. It could therefore be true that a higher number of mothers who are not in the nursing profession could still believe in this myth. As Swarts, et al. (2010) found out, mothers who chose to formula feed their babies because of HIV were branded to be HIV+ by their communities and they would therefore prefer breastfeeding yet the communities would rather have a HIV+ mother not breastfeed the baby. There is therefore a major problem of perception by the community and lack of knowledge on breastfeeding when the mother is HIV+. Recommendations All evidence supports breastfeeding promotion, as the benefits for mother and baby are obvious. There is no conflicting evidence, with the exception of women who are HIV positive, since they are at risk for transmitting the disease to the infant. Research makes it apparent that education and prevalence are directly related. In other words, by implementing education, support and assistance from healthcare providers and peers, expecting mothers can become more aware of the numerous benefits of breastfeeding and receive assistance if necessary. More information is necessary regarding the most effective method of transmitting information between experts, healthcare providers, and mothers. However, even the most basic knowledge can prove beneficial. Therefore, the recommendation is to increase programs for new mothers in order to increase prevalence of breastfeeding. For example, such programs help working mothers who believe breast feeding is impossible, consider the possibility more entirely. Healthcare professionals must work to eliminate the many misconceptions surrounding breastfeeding in order to induce the best overall quality of health for mother and child. There is need to equip primary care professionals with adequate skills on breastfeeding to enable them advice better on issues of breastfeeding as some studies have found that nurses give conflicting advice on the same and some are not confident of handling some of the issues regarding breastfeeding. Communities also need to be educated on the importance of breastfeeding even when the mother is HIV+. References Brook Belay, Jessica Allen, Nancy Williams, Carrie Dooyema, and Jennifer Foltz (2013). Promoting women’s health in hospitals: a focus on breastfeeding and lactation support for employees and patients . Journal of Women’s Health. 22(1): 1-4. John, A. M. (2013). Improve breastfeeding rates by increasing health care provider’s knowledge and attitude. Kentucky Nurse, 61(1), 5-5. Geddes, J (2012). Breastfeeding: how to increase prevalence. Nursing times; 108: 32/33. 12-14. Pérez- Escamilla, R. & Chapman, D.J. (2012). Breastfeeding protection, promotion, and support in the United States: A time to nudge, a time to measure. Journal of Human Lactation, 28 (2), 118-121. Swarts, S., Kruger, H.S., & Dolman, R.C. (2010). Factors affecting mothers’ choice of breastfeeding vs. formula feeding in the lower umfolozi district war memorial hospital, Kwazulu- Natal. Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, 15 (1), 110-126. Whelan, B., McEvoy, S., Eldin, N., & Kearney, J. (2010). Why primary health professionals need to promote breastfeeding. Practice Nursing, 22 (1), 35-19. Read More