Breastfeeding

Background

The goal of the Breastfeeding Promotion in Physicians' Office Practices four-year grant was to develop residency curricula for breastfeeding. The curriculum was piloted at 14 residency programs.

Objective

The objective of this curriculum is to prepare residents to better counsel patients on the benefits of breastfeeding, as well as manage common situations associated with breastfeeding, including:

• Describe the anatomy of the breast
• Describe the physiology of lactation
• Counsel a pregnant woman about the advantages of breastfeeding
• Learn the true contraindications of breastfeeding
• Take a breastfeeding history
• Learn to help a mother initiate breastfeeding after delivery
• Manage breastfeeding problems that may occur in the mother