Science and practice

Gonzalez et al analyzed all issues in one year of every five years since The Journal of Human Lactation, the peer-reviewed journal of the International Lactation Consultants Association, first issued in 1985. An important finding was that were in the early years articles mainly consisted of those targeting the Lactation Consultant Practice, through the years focus more and more was put on scientific articles. According to the researcher this shows that lactation Consulting has evolved into a more medical profession, which improves its credibility as a new healthcare profession. But is medicalization of breastfeeding something worthy striving for? And does medicalization lead to better breastfeeding numbers, as in more mothers and babies enjoying breastfeeding for longer durations? No, knowing that another 10-syllable ingredient of human milk has been identified doesn’t make more mothers start breastfeeding, nor more babies being breastfed for the recommended time. Studies around the experience of breastfeeding and reasons for early discontinuation for decennia have shown similar outcomes: mothers do not need more scientific evidence, nor more pushing and promoting to start breastfeeding (most moms want to breastfeed anyway). What they do need is support, help and encouragement. Brand et al compared 2 groups of early postpartum mothers with problematic breastfeeding. The mothers who continued breastfeeding despite problems were those who felt to have a support system, professional and/or lay. Hegney c.s. concluded similarly. they found in both their cohorts that women started out with idealistic expectations. Those who continued breastfeeding despite problems were women who felt they had a health care professional they could trust on breastfeeding matters and had a social network with peers to exchange experiences. They also found that mothers who did not continue felt alone and had feelings of guilt and inadequacy. Mothers and babies need health care professionals who can empathize with them, have a solid knowledge of basic breastfeeding physiology and normal infant and toddler behavior.  They do  ot need HCPs who can reproduce all hundreds of ingredients of human milk.
Gonzalez PA: The Development of Professional Healthcare Support for Breastfeeding: A Content Analysis of the Journal of Human Lactation. Poster Presentation. University of South Florida, 2011
Brand E, Kothari C, Stark MA: Factors Related to Breastfeeding Discontinuation Between Hospital Discharge and 2 Weeks Postpartum. Journal of Perinatal Education, 2011 , 20(1):36-44(9)
Hegney, D., Fallon, T. and O’Brien, M. L. (2008), Against all odds: a retrospective case-controlled study of women who experienced extraordinary breastfeeding problems. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 17: 1182–1192.