Breastfeeding Basics: Breastfeeding Benefits & Barriers

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants should be able to describe the benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and infants.

2. Participants should be able to identify contraindications to breastfeeding in the United States.

Contents of This Module

1. Pre-module Evaluation

2. The History of Breastfeeding

3. The advantages of breastfeeding for the baby
   • Nutritional
   • Immunologic advantages
   • Prevention of allergies & asthma
   • Bonding and Psychosocial effects
   • Intellectual development
   • Other Advantages

4. The advantages of breastfeeding for the mother
   • Economics
   • Uterine involution
   • Bonding and psychosocial effects
   • Child spacing (Case Study 1)
   • The Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM)
   • Prevention of breast cancer (premenopausal)
   • Postpartum weight loss (Case Study 2)

5. Breastfeeding Statistics in the United States

6. Barriers to Breastfeeding
   • Lack of confidence
   • Embarrassment of breastfeeding in public
   • Loss of freedom
   • Concerns about dietary and health practices
   • Influence of family and friends
   • Are there women who should not breastfeed?

7. Summary

8. Post-module Evaluation

9. References