Booby Traps Series: Pediatrician training and attitudes can stand in the way of breastfeeding

by Tanya Lieberman, IBCLC | July 5, 2012 6:19 am

This is the 47th post in a series on Booby Traps, made possible by the generous support of Motherlove Herbal Company.

Of all the health are providers involved in your motherhood journey, you’d expect that pediatricians would be the most supportive of breastfeeding

After all, their job is to ensure the health of your infant.  And they’re the providers you see when you’re home from the hospital and the rubber hits the road.

Pediatricians are also highly influential in mothers’ decisions to initiate and sustain breastfeeding, and to breastfeed exclusively.

We know of many, many pediatricians who are supportive of breastfeeding, practice evidence-based care, and even champion the cause.  Many pediatricians have led the way in improving breastfeeding care (and you can find some of them associated with the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine).

But research has shown that pediatricians are often Booby Trapped by inadequate training, and that their personal experience and attitudes can also stand in the way.

Consider these sobering research findings:

The American Academy of Pediatrics does periodic surveys of physicians’ skills and attitudes toward breastfeeding.  The most recent one, published in 2008, found that compared to the prior survey done in 1999, pediatricians were:

The study concluded that pediatricians’ “attitudes and commitment have deteriorated.”

Other studies have found similar problems:

This has real consequences for mothers and babies.  One study found that “mothers whose pediatric providers recommended formula supplementation if an infant was not gaining enough weight or who considered their advice to mothers on breastfeeding duration to be not very important were more likely to have discontinued exclusive breastfeeding by 12 weeks postpartum.”

There is hope on the horizon in this area, and I’ll soon be writing about a new curriculum for residents which has shown excellent results.  But for now, it’s important that mothers understand that not all pediatricians have the skills or attitude necessary to help you meet your breastfeeding goals.

Was your pediatrician knowledgeable and skilled when it came to breastfeeding?  How did your pediatrician influence your breastfeeding experience?



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