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This book is a practical guide for medical practitioners as they navigate through breastfeeding problems that occur in day-to-day practice.If mothers have a breastfeeding complication they are often directed to their GP. In complex situations, medical staff will be making decisions around what treatment plan to follow and whether a mother can keep breastfeeding. In recent years there has been growing evidence that medical professionals often advise mothers to stop breastfeeding while undergoing treatment, when in reality this was not a necessary step. In a time when breastfeeding rates are decreasing, it is important that medical professionals give accurate advice and support a mother's choice to breastfeed if the situation allows it. A Guide to Supporting Breastfeeding for the Medical Profession includes contributions from a wide range of medical professionals and each chapter is written with the practitioner in mind. Contributors include GPs, paediatricians, neonatologists, lactation specialists and midwives. Doctors have a vital role to play in supporting and facilitating breastfeeding, and without the appropriate knowledge they can often inadvertently sabotage it. This book will be of interest to GPs and paediatricians as well as nurse prescribers, midwives and health visitors.

Breastfeeding is a major public health issue. Breastmilk provides all the nutrients a baby needs for their first six months. Research studies also show that breastfeeding doesn't just help to protect infants from infection, but has other benefits such as reducing obesity and can help protect mothers from some diseases in later life. Although initiation of breastfeeding is improving, the numbers who continue drop rapidly in the first few weeks highlighting that women need the support of their midwives and health visitors when beginning breastfeeding and throughout their child's infancy. Based on the UNICEF UK BFI University learning outcomes, this newly updated textbook addresses the outcomes to ensure that students are equipped with the essential knowledge and skills to effectively promote and support breastfeeding mothers, including: • anatomy and physiology; • building relationships; • essential skills and good practice guidance; • dealing with common problems; • public health considerations; • babies and mothers with special needs; • complementary feeding. Suitable for both undergraduate students and practitioners undertaking continuing professional development, Evidence-based Care for Breastfeeding Mothers is designed to aid learning. Each chapter begins with specific learning outcomes linked to the Baby Friendly outcomes, key fact boxes, clinical scenarios and activities.