1511cf66_all_To_Action_on_Breastfeeding__Topic
[ID] 1278 [Interest Areas] Breastfeeding Coalition Representative Concerned Citizen Nonprofit Organization [Comment] In all honesty, I do not think that we will improve breastfeeding rates and duration in this country until we improve birth practices. When she is pregnant, a woman is on a trajectory that lasts through the birth and into the first year of her baby's life. How well she has eaten, how well she understands self-care, and her expectations for her delivery are important and a part of this trajectory. But so are the practices of her caregivers-- her doctors or midwives, and every other professional she encounters. And most of the time, these medical professionals operate in a vacuum and know little or nothing about breastfeeding and how their decisions and practices have an impact on their patient and her decision to breastfeed, her ability and success at breastfeeding, and how long she continues. If I were making policy, then I would increase the numbers of midwives (CNMs and CPMs) across the country. I would move as many low-risk women into their care as I could and I would encourage the continuation of the midwife-client relationship in the event of transfer of care because of complications. Then we would see prenatal care/education, birth practices, and postpartum follow-up that are conducive to fostering healthy successful breastfeeding relationships among women and their babies. We would see a drop in epidural use, a drop in inductions, and a drop in the cesarean section rate. And while we are at it, let's encourage the use of birth and postpartum doulas. More midwives. More doulas. That would be a very cheap way to improve the breastfeeding outcomes in the US. [Topic] 
Maternal and Infant Care Practices: Prenatal, Hospital, and Post-Delivery Care
Call To Action on Breastfeeding
Topic