Breastfeeding Experiences Among Physicians
Breastfeeding Medicine, 06/01/2012
Riggins C et al. – Even mothers who are medical professionals experience, and often cannot overcome, difficulties with breastfeeding. Women in medicine need enhanced breastfeeding support and services/resources. Advocacy is needed, in work environments, for better breastfeeding support not only for physician colleagues, but also for all lactating employees within institutions.
Methods- In academic medical center, they conducted a brief survey of physicians who have young children, to explore their own experiences with breastfeeding.
- The survey explored the physician-as-parent's own experiences with breastfeeding—prenatal intentions, postnatal difficulties, ability to meet goals, emotions if goals were not met, resources for support pre- and postnatally, and ideas about what would have helped her breastfeed longer.
- Two-thirds of the physicians who initiated breastfeeding had difficulties.
- Among those with difficulties, about three-fourths were able to resolve them.
