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Report Proposes New Guidelines for Promoting BreastfeedingNational Center for Education in Maternal and Child HealthNovember 17, 2000 Breastfeeding is one of the most important contributors to infant health, and yet in 1988 (the year for which the most recent statistics are available) only 29% of U.S. women breastfed their infants for at least 6 months, states a report recently released by the Office on Women’s Health, Department of Health and Human Services. The report makes new recommendations for education, training, awareness, support, and research related to increasing the prevalence of breastfeeding in the United States. The authors of the report contend that new policies are necessary because breastfeeding provides so many proven benefits for infants, mothers, and the community, including building the infant's resistance to infectious diseases; enhancing the infant's immune system and immune responses to infection; supplying the infant with a balance of nutrients required for growth and development; reducing the infant's risk for chronic childhood diseases; improving the infant's physical and cognitive development; improving the mother's health; and providing economic and social benefits to the family, the health care system, the employer, and the nation. The report notes that in spite of the many benefits of breastfeeding, in certain cases a woman should not breastfeed (i.e., if she is infected with HIV or has human T-cell leukemia virus type 1). A health professional should assess the benefits vs. the risks of breastfeeding for women who 1) have been environmentally exposed to harmful chemicals; 2) have hepatitis C, 3) use illicit drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or pharmaceutical drugs; 4) have breast implants or have had breast surgery; or 5) have metabolic disorders. The report recommends that the health care system support breastfeeding by promoting it during the prenatal and postnatal periods and by training health professionals in breastfeeding counseling, the basics of lactation, and lactation management. Information for mothers should be made available via schools, books, Web sites, hotlines, media campaigns, and support groups. In addition, the workplace, child care facilities, and families should encourage mothers to breastfeed. Finally, the report stresses that research should be conducted to address issues related to breastfeeding, including the health benefits and cost-effectiveness of breastfeeding and effects of over-the-counter and prescribed products on breastfed infants. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Women's Health. 2000. HHS Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding. Washington, DC: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Women's Health. Available at www.4women.gov/Breastfeeding/bluprntbk2.pdf. To subscribe to the MCH Alert,
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