Many breastfeeding activists believe the wide spread promotion of formula in the media and throughout hospitals and doctors offices contributes to this decline. The lack of breastfeeding education among pediatricians and family health care providers also affects breastfeeding rates. Combine these factors, and you have a large portion of society believing formula is just as good as breastfeeding.
In fact, breastfeeding is sometimes seen as an alternative to the "normal" choice (bottle feeding) by pediatricians, especially if a mother is nursing longer than six months. But the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new breastfeeding guidelines for pediatricians this month. Explaining the need for breastfeeding promotion and education, along with clear instructions on how help a mother maintain the breastfeeding relationship, these new guidelines will be seen by hundreds of thousands of pediatricians across the world.
The AAP claims that breastfeeding is the superior feeding choice, and even states that when breastfeeding is not an option, expressed human milk should be the next logical choice before formula. They also stress the importance of making every effort to inform and educate women on the numerous health benefits and that "the practitioner should weigh thoughtfully the benefits of breastfeeding against the risks of not receiving human milk" before recommending premature weaning or actually advising against this feeding choice.
Other recommendations include providing support and education to the mother during pregnancy, allowing the baby to remain with the mother after the birth and during the hospital stay, delaying or omitting routine newborn procedures after the birth to enhance the nursing environment, encouraging the mother to nurse on cue rather than on a schedule, refraining from using supplements in the nursery, and scheduling follow-up visits for the mother release from the hospital.
A surprising recommendation of the AAP also corresponds with the World Health Organization (WHO) Code and the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (by WHO). Each of these guidelines state that every effort should be made to stop the promotion and distribution of formula, generally in the form of gift packs or free samples, in all hospitals. The reason for this is clear. Mothers need to be encouraged to breastfeed. Free samples of formula are misleading and can severely interfere during the time when the milk supply and nursing relationship are being developed.
