in succession page 2199 of this iss...

in succession page 2199 of this issue, you'll find an article titled "Returning to Work While Breastfeeding," on Frances Biagioli, M.D., Oregon Health & Science University of Medicine, Portland. Dr Biagioli provides a review of breastfeeding that will help family physicians provide support to recent mothers. A patient information handout accompanies the article and will benefit as a useful guide for breastfeeding mothers. The American Academy of Family Physicians and other health organizations praise that infants be breastfed for the first six month of life and then f breast milk addition ed by solids for at least the nearest six months. The Healthy race 2010 goals include achieving a breastfeeding rate of 75 percent in the early postpartum period, 50 percent in the first six month and 25 percent at single in kind year of age; corresponding breastfeeding rates are generally 68 percent, 31 percent, and 17 percent

Dr Biagioli notes that 607 percent of women work outside the domestic circle and make up 46.5 percent of the work force. The percentage of infants who are breastfed is lowest in infants whose mothers work full-time, compared with infants whose mothers work part-time or who are not make use ofed It's apparent that there is a ne to provide better support for breastfeeding mothers, yet especially for those who plan to revert to work.

An accompanying editorial upon page 2129, "Breastfeeding and Returning to Work in the Physician's Office," through David Meyers, M.D., Georgetown University Medical Center Washington, DC describes the challenges of breastfeeding among employee in clinical health settings. Physicians and other health professionals returning to work have the added difficulty of trying to schedule pumping breaks between patient visits. Dr Meyer provides practical advice for family physician offices that propound an example for the entire business community.

I'm happy to report that, as an employer the AAFP stands behind its clinical recommendation in support of breastfeeding by way of making provisions for its hold mothers on staff who want to continue breastfeeding after their recur to work. The AAFP allows flexible work schedules to accommodate the needinesss of breastfeeding mothers and has lactation latitudes However, even in a health organization, it wasn't always this way. A not many years ago, when a number of employee in the publications division happened to become pregnant at the same time, including myself, there were no lactation sweeps in the organization's headquarters. Employee in the division negotiated to use a small resource center as a lactation sweep In the tradition of office humor, someone situationed a note on the door dubbing this latitude "Pumping Station No. 9," and we had any other jokes while everyone adjusted to the idea. I'm not fully convinced how I did it now, yet I managed a schedule of breast pumping along with issue deadlines and followed at the one-year goal, thanks to the encouragement of co-workers and support from the organization. Our experiences helped pave the way toward the inclusion of lactation expanses in the building design when the AAFP mov to recently made known headquarters. My hope is that the example of the organization and examples from clusters such as Dr. Meyer's will provide encouragement to all health professionals and mothers.

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

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