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The resources of motivation and knowledge that make the nurse a valuable support to the new mother initiating breastfeeding are needed again, equally as much, as the nurse prepares the mother for self-care at home and remains available for counseling afterwards. There are general guidelines for promoting continued breastfeeding success and for avoiding potential problems. The nurse should be familiar with these and with how to proceed in special situations and with specific breastfeeding problems. “Self-Care for Continued Breastfeeding” and “Some Breastfeeding Problems and Solutions”, presented below, end the series on breastfeeding begun in the July/August issue. The advantages of continuing breastfeeding beyond the neonatal period are reviewed and general guidelines for selfcare at home are discussed. Developmental changes in the instant and psychological and physical changes in the mother are outlined and related to breastfeeding success. Advice for working mothers and for weaning is also presented.

The major anatomical structures of the lactating breast are identified and related to the psychophysiologic mechanisms of lactation. Hand expression of breast milk is explained in a practical manner and some causes of lactation dysfunction are described.

One of the great medical advances of the past decade has been the scientific validation of the importance of species-specific milk. This "discovery" has led to a growing general awareness of the value, during the first year of life, of the milk of the baby's own mother for optimal physical and emotional development. These benefits of breastfeeding may last a lifetime. The need to understand and assist the mother in maintaining this relationship presents a major challenge to the nurse. Beginning with this issue of JOGN and continuing in two subsequent issues a series of six articles is being presented that gives an overview of breastfeeding, from historical perspectives to specific problems nursing mothers may encounter. The initial installment consists of "Infant Feeding Patterns Past and Present" and "The Anatomy and Psychophysiology of Lactation." Following in September/October and November/December will be "The Biologic Specificity of Breast Milk," "Preparation for Breastfeeding and Early Optimal Functioning," "Self-Care for Continued Breastfeeding," and "Some Breastfeeding Problems and Solutions." The cultural pattern of breastfeeding in ancient and contemporary cultures are compared, and changes during the Industrial Revolution that led to the decline in breastfeeding are outlined. Also described are the consequences of the trend away from breastfeeding in Third World countries and current breastfeeding patterns in the United States.