Supporting the Breast-feeding Dyad

Although there has been a resurgence of breast-feeding in the last decade, 50% of women discontinue exclusive breast-feeding by the third month postpartum. Practices known to interfere with breast-feeding are often begun in hospital and continued at home. The physiology of lactation, the need for interaction between mother and infant during breast-feeding, and research findings indicate that scheduled feeds, feeds of limited duration, supplementation, and separation of mothers and infants interfere with the success of breast-feeding. Health care providers can promote breast-feeding duration by advising unlimited feeds, promoting 'rooming-in' at hospitals, and providing support and information.