Maternal Implications of Breastfeeding: A Review for the Internist

Maryam Sattari; Janet R Serwint; David M Levine

doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.02.021

Maternal Implications of Breastfeeding: A Review for the Internist

Am J Med. 2019 Aug;132(8):912-920. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.02.021. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Authors

Maryam Sattari¹, Janet R Serwint², David M Levine³

Affiliations

¹ Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville. Electronic address: maryam.sattari@medicine.ufl.edu.
² Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md.
³ Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md.

PMID: 30853481
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2019.02.021

Abstract

Breastfeeding seems to be a low-cost intervention that provides both short- and long-term health benefits for the breastfeeding woman. Interventions to support breastfeeding can increase its rate, exclusivity, and duration. Internists often have a longitudinal relationship with their patients and can be important partners with obstetricians and pediatricians in advocating for breastfeeding. To play their unique and critical role in breastfeeding promotion, internists need to be knowledgeable about breastfeeding and its maternal health benefits. In this paper, we review the short- and long-term maternal health benefits of breastfeeding. We also discuss special considerations in the care of breastfeeding women for the internist.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; Internist; Lactation; Maternal health benefits.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Breast Feeding / economics
Breast Feeding / methods
Breast Feeding / trends*
Humans
Internal Medicine / education*
Internal Medicine / methods
Maternal Health Services / standards
Maternal Health Services / statistics & numerical data
Milk, Human / metabolism
Milk, Human / microbiology