Promoting Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding and Population Health

Kaiser Permanente has consistently promoted preventative services and healthy life choices. One of the most important decisions a mother faces is the choice to breastfeed. Kaiser Permanente's promotion of breastfeeding to its members and employees is a tangible example of the integral role that preventative care plays throughout the organization.

Breastfeeding has many benefits, both short term and long term, for the infant and the mother as well as economic benefits for families. Parents take fewer days off to care for sick infants, resulting in improved productivity at work. ¹ Breastfeeding can save a family approximately $1,000 each year on formula costs alone. ¹ There is a lower utilization of healthcare services for families that breastfeed and, in a managed care setting, up to a 20% reduction in medical expenses. ²

Kaiser Permanente physicians use its integrated care delivery model to help mothers understand the benefits of breastfeeding and to support the mother's infant feeding decision. Physicians have the unique opportunity to put the patient at the center of every healthcare decision. Supported by coordinated care delivery teams that are all connected to each other by state-of-the-art electronic medical records, Kaiser Permanente care teams have immediate access to patients' medical information so members are assured they are receiving coordinated, high-quality care.

For members, Kaiser Permanente actively promotes breastfeeding by helping to break some of the barriers many new mothers encounter when attempting to breastfeed. Kaiser Permanente encourages early entry into prenatal care and offers full prenatal and maternal care. An expecting mother is encouraged to develop a birth plan to clearly indicate her intentions for feeding the baby, which is respected by staff. Advice about breastfeeding and other decisions related to a mother's plan are discussed at visits, and a breast examination is performed to evaluate for potential problems. Breastfeeding classes and referral to International Board Certified Lactation Consultants are parts of Kaiser Permanente's comprehensive prenatal care.

Kaiser Permanente's “Prenatal 4” class is focused exclusively on breastfeeding. Members are provided with information on why breastfeeding is preferred and how it protects both the mother and infant. Members are educated on breast anatomy and let down, the importance of skin-to-skin contact, latch and positioning, hand expressing and pumping, and common breastfeeding problems and solutions, as well as what to expect when returning to work.

Kaiser Permanente's HealthConnect^®, a comprehensive health information system, includes one of the most advanced electronic medical records available. Physicians encourage all members to sign up for “My Health Manager,” a free service that includes, among other features, secure e-mail messaging so members can communicate with their doctors at anytime, from any Internet connection. Pediatricians have the unique ability to support breastfeeding through implementing “breastfeeding friendly” waiting rooms, providing nursing rooms for mothers who value privacy, offering early and robust lactation support both in the office and over the phone, and providing limited or no formula gift bags to new mothers.

Expectant mothers in the Mid-Atlantic States region can also participate in Kaiser Permanente's “Newborn Club,” a program that helps new mothers overcome breastfeeding challenges and provides ongoing education and hands-on support, during the last trimester of pregnancy and the first crucial weeks after delivery, so that every baby has the opportunity to thrive. As part of the Newborn Club, all pediatric nurses are trained in newborn assessment and basic breastfeeding strategies. The infant's first outpatient visit with the pediatric nurse can be longer than a pediatrician's schedule will generally allow. In addition, the Newborn Club is supported by a robust outreach program consisting of phone calls, phone support, and anticipatory guidance.

Kaiser Permanente employees are provided with adequate resources that encourage continued breastfeeding after returning to work. Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States was recently recognized with a “Regional Breastfeeding-Friendly Workplace Award” from the District of Columbia Breastfeeding Coalition and the Maryland Breastfeeding Coalition in recognition of the supportive work environment provided to its breastfeeding employees.