Guidelines for Primary Pediatric Care Professionals to Help Patients Establish and Protect Milk Supply

The first well-child encounter for healthy, full-term newborns occurs within the critical window for the establishment of the milk supply. Frequent, effective removal of human milk from the breast is essential to achieving a robust milk supply. Nurses in primary care settings are crucial in providing quality and timely lactation care to ensure the parent is experiencing effective milk removal. Identification of risk factors and barriers to achieving a milk supply requires adept assessment and knowledge of lactation physiology. Not all nurses receive formal education on human milk and lactation. This resource can be used by primary care nurses to prioritize establishing and protecting the milk supply among families with a desire to breastfeed.