Breastfeeding for Public Health

Health visitors play a crucial role in supporting mothers who choose to breastfeed, and their families. This accessible text enables readers to practise confidently in this vital area, focusing on underpinning knowledge, parent-centred counselling skills, and understanding cultural contexts.

Autorentext

Alison Spiro has worked as a health visitor and an NCT breastfeeding counsellor, recently acting as a specialist health visitor and infant feeding lead in two NHS trusts, taking them both to become Baby Friendly accredited by UNICEF. She did a doctorate in social anthropology and studied breastfeeding in Indian families in London and India. Recognised as a Queen's Nurse in 2014, she is now a professional advisor for Best Beginnings and the Institute of Health Visiting, and a volunteer in breastfeeding support groups and training peer supporters.

Inhalt

1.Introduction. 2.Why does breastfeeding matter to babies, mothers, and society? 3.Why is formula feeding considered 'normal' in the UK? 4.Communication skills, emotional support and motivational interviewing. 5.The practical skills which should help community practitioners to support parents with breastfeeding. 6.Some breastfeeding challenges. 7.Does breastfeeding improve parental and infant mental health? 8.Health visitors just weigh babies. 9.Special situations, when breastfeeding might be more difficult. 10.Can anthropology give us insights into the way society views breastfeeding? 11.Cultural Influences on breastfeeding in the UK. 12.Community practitioners can normalise breastfeeding