ARS | Publication request: BREASTFEEDING

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: May 31, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The pediatrician should encourage mothers to breast-feed their babies for the first year, and should provide the information mothers need to be able to do the job right. The doctor should know, and be able to properly to communicate to the mother, the scientific evidence supporting breastfeeding. In lay terms, the reasons include the following: Human milk benefits the baby in terms of its nutrition, the functioning of its intestinal system, and immune system. Also, the mother's behavior in breastfeeding has been reported to enhance her baby's sense of well-being. The author describes the mechanics of breastfeeding, proper milk storage, and signs of breast infection and jaundice. The breastfeeding mother should be sure to eat a well-balanced diet.