Physicians and Breastfeeding Promotion in the United States: A Call for Action

Commentary| March 01 2001 Physicians and Breastfeeding Promotion in the United States: A Call for Action Barbara L. Philipp, MD; Barbara L. Philipp, MD Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Anne Merewood, MA; Anne Merewood, MA Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Susan O'Brien, MD Susan O'Brien, MD Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Address correspondence to Barbara L. Philipp, MD, Pediatrics ACC 5, Boston Medical Center, 850 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02118. E-mail: Pediatrics (2001) 107 (3): 584–587. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.107.3.584 Article history Received: December 21 1999 Accepted: July 24 2000 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Barbara L. Philipp, Anne Merewood, Susan O'Brien; Physicians and Breastfeeding Promotion in the United States: A Call for Action. Pediatrics March 2001; 107 (3): 584–587. 10.1542/peds.107.3.584 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All PublicationsAll JournalsPediatricsHospital PediatricsPediatrics In ReviewNeoReviewsAAP Grand RoundsAAP NewsAll AAP Sites Search Advanced Search Subjects: Agency ABCs Topics: breast feeding, milk, human Based on the compelling "health, nutritional, immunologic, developmental, psychological, social, economic, and environmental benefits"1 of breastfeeding, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for approximately the first 6 months of life, continuing to a year or beyond with the addition of complementary foods at about 6 months. But as we enter the new millennium, US breastfeeding rates remain well below national goals2,3 and physician knowledge about breastfeeding is lacking.4,5 This commentary reviews current national breastfeeding goals and their historical context, discusses one hospital's success at raising breastfeeding rates through the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), and offers suggestions to help pediatricians influence and improve the breastfeeding situation in our nation. National breastfeeding goals, established by the US government within the Healthy People 2000 program in 1978 and restated in 1989, were to: "increase to at least 75% the proportion of mothers who exclusively or partially breastfeed... You do not currently have access to this content.