(BQ) Part 2 book “Bright futures nutrition” hass contents: Nutrition questionnaire for infants, key indicators of nutrition risk for children and adolescents, screening for elevated blood lead levels, nutrition resources, federal nutrition assistance programs, and other contents. | BRIGHT FUTURES: NUTRITION Nutrition Issues and Concerns Bright FUTURES 113 BRIGHT FUTURES: NUTRITION Breastfeeding Breastfeeding Health professionals are uniquely positioned to influence women in their decision about whether to breastfeed. Discussing the benefits of breastfeeding during prenatal care enables parents to make an informed choice about whether and for how long to breastfeed their infant. Breastfeeding success is in large part dependent on a health professional’s supportive attitudes, a hospital climate that is conducive to the initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding, family support, and health professionals’ awareness of the need for breastfeeding instruction and support. BREASTFEEDING RATES The Healthy People 2010 objectives for breastfeeding are that 75% of mothers will breastfeed in the early postpartum period, and 50% will still be breastfeeding when their infant is 6 months In 2004, 73% of mothers breastfed their infants in the early postpartum period, and 41% continued to breastfeed through age 6 The Healthy People 2010 Midcourse Review objectives for breastfeeding are that 60% of mothers will breastfeed exclusively for 3 months, and at least 25% will breastfeed exclusively for 6 In 2004, 30% of mothers exclusively breastfed their infants for 3 months, and 11% exclusively breastfed their infants for 6 To promote optimal nutritional status for infants, it is essential that health professionals and parents recognize the enormous benefits of breastfeeding and breast milk, understand how to effectively manage lactation, and learn the importance of breastfeeding exclusively during the first 6 months of life. Most infants born in the United States in the 20th century were not breastfed. Cow’s milk preparations and other infant formulas were usually the major source of nutrition during the first year of life. However, research conducted over the past 30 years has repeatedly demonstrated the importance of .
