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Breastfeed In Health Care

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“Nutritional status is the balance between nutrient intake and nutrient requirements” (Jarvis, 2012). “Optimal nutritional status is achieved when sufficient nutrients are consumed to support [the] body’s needs and any increased metabolic demands caused by growth, pregnancy, or illness” (Jarvis, 2012). Newborns require intense nutritional and metabolic needs as they increase 50% in their length in the first year of life and double it by 4 years of age (Jarvis, 2012). Breast milk provides “specific nutrition” that meets the infant’s nutritional needs and there has been “indisputable evidence” from research that demonstrates the health benefits of breastfeeding infants including a “lower incidence [of diseases] such as otitis media, atopic …show more content…

And so, these are some reasons why breastmilk and breastfeeding are actively encouraged in health care (DHHS, 2014). However, when a new mother refuses to breastfeed it is “important for nurses to explore the positive and negative aspects of breastfeeding from the mother's perspective” (Barrientos & Bylaska-Davies, 2015). This is because “nurses spend the most time with mothers during the pre and post-partum period, as well as care for the infants following delivery”(Barrientos & Bylaska-Davies, 2015). Therefore with effective communication and education on different options for feeding, and by conducting frequent nutritional assessments of the infant the nurse can ensure adequate nutrition for the infant. The Best Start 3 Step Breastfeeding Counseling Strategy can be used: by asking the mother open-ended questions, affirming her feelings, and educating the mother on the advantages for both the mother and the child (Lazarov & Evans, 2011). It is important to note that educating the mother with information should not be overwhelming but should be in “small amounts of information that is relevant for the individual mother” (yellowpdf). If the new mother still is undecided about breastfeeding the nurse should continue to encourage the use of breastmilk, expressed milk, and pumping (DHHS,

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