Common Myths and Barriers Regarding Breast Feeding
Breastfeeding guidelines are crucial for supporting mothers and their newborn infants. Due to the presence and strong influence of breastfeeding myths in numerous communities, a DNP has to encourage patient education to prevent the instances that involve health issues in mothers and infants. Because of unnecessary food restrictions and other misconceptions associated with breastfeeding, patient education based on a set of instructions developed from a DNP standpoint is necessary.
The problem of nutrition-related myths is the key barrier to ensuring that breastfeeding is performed properly. Therefore, guidelines for active patent education have to create for lactating mothers (Jeong, Park, Lee, Ko, & Shin, 2017). Thus, the problem of the lack of education and awareness among women with infants will drop to a great extent, revealing the availability of resources can be regarded as the key source of the specified concern.
Because of the persistent myth concerning the negative effects of certain types of food on mothers and their infants, many women shape their diet in a way that affects both their and their children’s health negatively. Although, at present, there is no evidence that particular types of food produce a negative effect on lactating women and their infants, the myth remains persistent in numerous communities. Therefore, it is the role and study of a DNP to create a campaign aimed at raising awareness regarding the issue and promoting a well-balanced diet among lactating mothers.
IOM Recommendations for Supplementation for the Lactating Mothers
The issue of supplementation for mothers during the lactation period has not been addressed fully yet, mostly due to significant knowledge gaps in the area. According to the existing instructions provided by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the relevant nursing organizations, most of the current standards for nutrition for lactating mothers revolve around the idea of consuming enough nutrients and vitamins to remain healthy and provide the infant with the necessary amount of nutrients as well (Kominiarek, 2016). There are certain restrictions as far as the intake of certain products is concerned; however, these are related mostly to the consumption of tobacco and alcoholic beverages (Kominiarek, 2016). According to the existing IOM recommendations, there are no limitations as far as the consumption of products is concerned apart from tobacco and alcohol, which are strongly prohibited for lactating mothers (American Organization of Nurse Executives, 2015). The described guidelines align with the standards for DNP practice suggested by both the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2006) and the American Organization of Nurse Executives (2015).
Importance of Colostrum
Immediately after being born, an infant is exposed to numerous factors that may have a vastly adverse effect. The consumption of colostrum, in turn, provides a chance to reduce the extent of the specified threat and provide a child with the resources required to maintain proper health. Colostrum is the first substance that a mother’s breast produces after a child is born (Lee et al., 2015). Studies show that the infants who receive colostrum through breastfeeding during the first several days after being born are typically much healthier than the infants who are not provided with colostrum (Lee et al., 2015). Therefore, the environment for encouraging the production of colostrum in mothers of infants has to be created.
As a DNP, one should focus on enhancing the importance of creating the specified type of environment. In addition, nurses have to be provided with the guidelines for mothers concerning the breastfeeding process to ensure that infants receive the required amount of nutrients during the first days after their birth. It is the responsibility of a DNP to ensure that the transition to lactogenesis occurs in mothers without any hindrances. Otherwise, the threat of children developing hypoglycemia becomes quite high (Lee et al., 2015). Thus, a DNP has to influence the existing guidelines and even policies for managing the needs of breastfeeding mothers to assist them in nurturing their children properly.
References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2006). The essentials of doctoral education for advanced nursing practice. Web.
American Organization of Nurse Executives. (2015). Nurse executive competencies. Web.
Jeong, G., Park, S. W., Lee, Y. K., Ko, S. Y., & Shin, S. M. (2017). Maternal food restrictions during breastfeeding. Korean Journal of Pediatrics, 60(3), 70-76. Web.
Kominiarek, M. A., & Rajan, P. (2016). Nutrition recommendations in pregnancy and lactation. Medical Clinics, 100(6), 1199-1215. Web.
Lee, J., Kim, H. S., Jung, Y. H., Choi, K. Y., Shin, S. H., Kim, E. K., & Choi, J. H. (2015). Oropharyngeal colostrum administration in extremely premature infants: An RCT. Pediatrics, 135(2), 357-366. Web.