PEDIATRICS Vol. 63 No. 1 January 1979, pp. 60-63
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Supporting Breast-Feeding

Sidney R. Kemberling M.D.1

1 Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona, Tucson

For those interested in another approach to breast-feeding, Jelliffe and Jelliffe have recently published an elegant paper titled " Breast Is Best."4

Developing skills that enhance breast-feeding can be learned by reading the books listed at the end of this article. If pediatricians want to be strong advocates of breast-feeding, they must be convinced of the advantages of breast milk. Many physicians say that they support breast-feeding but will, for instance, send formula bottles to the bedside of a breast-feeding mother.

The antagonistic physician or member of the office team may make remarks such as "Are you going to breast-feed until your child goes to school?" " Are you still breast-feeding?" or " The baby needs solid foods for good nutrition." These innuendos can defeat and demoralize the breast-feeding mother. Unless the physician provides strong support against these remarks, the mother will lose her confidence. Many husbands who are advocates of breast-feeding will defend her against these discouraging remarks. Group sessions of lactating mothers also bolster morale. Many mothers find duenna substitutes whom they can communicate with by telephone. (A duenna is an elderly woman who has charge of young unmarried women in a Spanish family.) However, when breast-feeding mothers confront a serious problem for which they have no simple solution, the pediatrician has to provide the ultimate backup support.

Submitted on December 5, 1977
Accepted on May 5, 1978




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