Pregnancy Today's Advisory Panel Answers:
Can you tell me about the new AAP breastfeeding guidelines?
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Question
I understand there are new breastfeeding guidelines established by the
American Academy of Pediatrics. Can you tell me about those new guidelines
or where to get a copy of them?
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Answer
The American Academy of Pediatrics has been working on these new guidelines
for quite a while and released those in the December issue of
Pediatrics. They are excellent, and demonstrate a true commitment to
protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding.
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Among other things,
the new guidelines recommend:
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Breastfeeding as
soon as possible after birth, preferably within the first hour of
life;
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Rooming-in for moms
and babies after birth
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Breastfeeding on
cue--looking to the baby for signs that he needs to nurse
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Only giving
supplements (water or formula) if medically necessary
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Encouraging mo ms to
express or pump their milk if they can't nurse
directly
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Breastfeeding
exclusively for the first 6 months or so, and that it should
continue for at least 12 months, and then as long afterwards as mom
and baby wish
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A trained observer
should evaluate breastfeeding during the first 24-48 hours after
delivery, with a follow-up visit 48-72 hours later.
You can read the entire
policy, complete with references, on the AAP web site: http://www.aap.org/policy/re9729.html
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