DOCTORS ’ LOUNGE
DOCTORS ’ LOUNGE
and 14 percent , respectively . This compares to 59 percent and eight percent , respectively in 2007 . There was not much progress in our state in those seven years . We will need to take a bold and innovative approach in the next four years to achieve the goals set by the Healthy People 2020 campaign .
In a state as poor and as diseased as ours we should have a keen interest in achieving these goals . Infants who are breastfed have fewer ear infections , respiratory illnesses and gastrointestinal infections , and a decreased risk for asthma , allergies and death from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome . Recent studies also suggest that breastfeeding may decrease the risk of obesity later in life and improve cognitive ability . The cost of illness in infants goes well beyond the personal and family cost of suffering and the costs of medication and hospitalization . Illness in infants has a significant economic price as working parents stay home to care for their sick infants .
There is also benefit to the mothers who breastfeed . Studies have shown a decrease in postmenopausal osteoporosis and breast cancer . Collectively and indiviudally , the cost of not breastfeeding infants is significant in socioeconomic terms .
With all these benefits and cost considerations , why aren ’ t we doing better ? I think it is because we still make it hard for women to breastfeed . Since the Industrial Revolution we in the United States have increasingly valued the woman ’ s time in the workplace more than we valued her time at home . Yes , we have enacted laws that require employers to provide maternity leave and the Affordable Care Act now requires the employer to provide a space for a woman to express her breast milk . But , women are encouraged and have a financial incentive to return to work as quickly as possible . This works against sustaining breastfeeding and achieving the goal of exclusive breastfeeding at six months .
Obviously women play a role in this . They must have a say about their careers and in matters that involve their bodies . But I ask where do our financial incentives lie ? What are our social attitudes about breastfeeding and do we as a society appropriately value breastfeeding ? The burden of breastfeeding should not be on the backs ( or other parts ) of women alone .
What can we do as physicians of the Greater Louisville Medical Society to support women and breastfeeding and to help our state achieve the Healthy 2020 goals ?
1 . Keep abreast of the facts and speak clearly . First , exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months has significant public health and economic benefits . Our state could save millions of dollars in health care costs each year by promoting exclusive breastfeeding to six months of age , and we would have a healthier and more productive workforce . Next , women who choose to breastfeed exclusively to six months should not be economically penalized for doing so . And , employers and health insurers should be incentivized to make breastfeeding to six months successful .
2 . Make your offices and hospitals breastfeeding friendly . Independent practitioners , your office environment is within your control . Employed physicians , know what your employer ’ s attitudes and practices are and advocate for the pregnant and breastfeeding employees and pregnant and breastfeeding patients and visitors . Assure that informational material is available and visible in all of our offices and hospitals . All physicians must walk the fine line of supporting breastfeeding and yet not make those who choose not to breastfeed feel guilty .
3 . Educate the public about the benefits of breastfeeding infants . Many of today ’ s women lack the educational , social , psychological and emotional support to initiate and sustain breastfeeding . Historically , this education has fallen to nurses and to the family physicians , pediatricians and obstetricians . But I submit that all physicians can play a role . Everyone who knows a pregnant woman has the opportunity to encourage breastfeeding . Whenever your patient talks about having a new baby , grandbaby , niece or nephew bring up the topic of breastfeeding . We must make the benefits of breastfeeding a topic of social discourse .
4 . Advocate for better laws , tax breaks for employers and economic incentives for women that promote breastfeeding through six months of age . Our area hospitals are increasing the percent of mothers who are breastfeeding their infants after delivery . Most have employed lactation consultants to assist new mothers who have no prior experience with breastfeeding and who may lack appropriate support and role models in their families . We now need to optimize the post-hospital environment to assure breastfeeding is sustained through six months of the infant ’ s age .
Above all else remember : breast milk is better than any udder milk . During this month , let ’ s make breastfeeding the talk of the town . Who knows , with our help perhaps someday someone will read about our own Mayor Greg Fischer de Louis Villiers .
Dr . Roberts is a neonatologist with the University of Louisville Physicians and the Vice Dean for Graduate Medical Education and Continuing Medical Education at the University of Louisville School of Medicine .
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