Abstract
Again, two valuable resources have been published by our Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. First of all: the revision of Protocol #19: Breastfeeding, Promotion in the Prenatal Period. 1 Authored by Anna Jack and her coauthors, this guideline is a helpful tool to inform and provide guidance in evidence-based ways to educate expecting parents about breastfeeding and human lactation.
“ABM’s revised protocol can be used by prenatal care providers and lactation specialists to ensure appropriate breastfeeding and lactation education is being provided; it can be used by patients as a conversation starter with their prenatal care provider,” says Dr. Anna Jack, MD, IBCLC, an author on the revision. 2 Systematic reviews show that prenatal education leads to more initiation of breastfeeding and longer exclusive and overall breastfeeding, and so this revised protocol helps the physician to discuss the individual breastfeeding goals of women, even if only a limited period of time is available for education during prenatal checkups.
Another very valuable document can be found on the website of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. 3 This short document on the importance of human milk, both mother’s milk and pasteurized donor milk, in reducing Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants was put together in a very short time, thanks to the energy of the authors, who are all long-time members of ABM: Dr. Lawrence Noble, Dr. Lori Feldman-Winter, Dr. Ann Kellams, Dr. Adora Okogbule-Wonodi, and Dr. Julie Ware. For both documents, the Academy is very grateful to have such excellent experts among its members, who, guided by their scientific knowledge of the topic and by their clinical experience, can give physicians and parents guidance around some questions that have been raised.
The importance of human milk for premature infants and the risks of not giving human milk to this most vulnerable group recently drew attention and discussion, both by the public and by physicians. The statement makes clear that human milk, preferably from the mother, is the first choice in feeding a premature infant. Practices to support breast milk feeding are important, including early and frequent milk expression, skin-to-skin contact, access to lactation support, and policies such as paid maternity leave. However, sometimes human milk is not available, and a premature infant has to be fed by commercial milk formulas.
The conclusion of the authors in this document is: “formula companies, hospitals, and medical organizations should adopt the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and stop advertising and promoting infant formula to families when it is not needed and when it is not the recommended best option for infant feeding.” This conclusion now needs translation into the policies of these institutions and should also be the guidance in advising parents with information based upon available evidence and resources.
Both the new protocol and the new statement showcase the expertise of the Academy and its members.
We provide evidence-based knowledge and recommendations in the field of breastfeeding medicine. This information is helpful to physicians and other health care professionals who directly interact with patients. It may also be used to establish policies for institutions and governments.
The Academy is grateful for all the volunteers in our organization who write protocols and statements. These authored documents are one of the main ways to fulfill the mission of the Academy: educating and empowering health professionals to support and manage breastfeeding, lactation, and human milk feeding. A careful review process is followed. These documents are all freely available to download for all who are interested. However, they do have significant value, both to health professionals as well as breastfeeding families, and the Academy invests a lot of time and money in writing and publishing.
The Academy abides by the WHO Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes 4 and has limited sources of revenue derived from (1) membership fees of our members worldwide, (2) conference registration fees, (3) contributions from limited supporting organizations, and (4) the donations of individuals who value the content of these protocols and statements and other activities of the Academy. In order to continue to provide our resources free of charge, please consider a donation at our website, www.bfmed.org/donate, and contribute to the mission of the Academy. Thank you!