Key Points The breast is a complex organ with growth, evolution, and regression over life. Its functional capacity changes dramatically throughout pregnancy and lactation. Many benign and malignant conditions affect the breast in general, and some conditions occur specifically during…
Key Points Lactation is a two-person system, and breastfeeding both affects and is affected by the mother’s physiology. Both acute maternal health conditions and chronic disorders may have an impact on the mother–baby dyad. Often, the mother’s acute health condition…
Key Points Mother’s own milk, appropriately fortified, is the standard for feeding premature infants. Provision of mother’s own milk for hospitalized premature infants provides short- and long-term health benefits. Neonatal providers play an important role supporting lactation in the neonatal…
Key Points Infants with special problems may require procedures, surgeries, or hospitalization to maintain and optimize their health or development. Breastfeeding and breast-milk feeding should be protected throughout these interruptions in an infant’s health routine because human milk may offer…
Key Points The basic tenet concerning breastfeeding and infection is that breastfeeding is rarely contraindicated in maternal infection. The few exceptions relate to specific infectious agents with strong evidence of transmission via breast milk and for the development of illness…
Key Points Medication use during lactation occurs in almost 50% of breastfeeding women. The most common medications reported include oral contraceptives, systemic antibiotics, “cold preparations,” analgesics/antipyretics, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents. The benefits of continued breastfeeding with maternal medication use almost…
Key Points Optimal growth can be achieved only through the interaction of genetic potential and optimal nutrition at the appropriate times (intrauterine, infancy, childhood, and adolescence) to immediately effect timely active growth and “program” organogenesis and metabolism to optimize future…
Key Points Simply stated, weaning is the transition of the infant from dependence on mother’s milk to reliance on other sources of nourishment for nutrition, health and growth, and development. Current recommendations are for 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding and…
Key Points Exclusive breastfeeding for 4 to 6 months is capable of nourishing an infant for appropriate growth and development even when the mother’s nutrition is “less than perfect.” The quantity of breast milk produced can be affected by maternal…
Key Points Breastfeeding units are best conceived of as physiologically interrelated, or “dyads,” although each family may include multiple interdependent dyads (e.g., those with multiples or more than one lactating parent). Supporting lactation and breastfeeding requires understanding a rich tapestry,…