母乳育児推進のための看護援助

In milk alimentation in Japan, the percentage of mother’s milk alimentation until 1 month after birth is 40-49%. The rate of mother’s milk alimentation has shown negligible changes since 1980. Mother’s milk alimentation has various advantages. The nutritional and physiological benefits include good digestion/absorption of each nutrient, and changes in milk compositions with the growth of infant’s stomach. Immunologically, mother’s milk contains various protective factors that prevent infants from infection. In addition, direct contact between the mother and infant is important in the establishment of the mother-child relationship. In 1989, the WHO/UNICEF issued the joint statement, “10 Steps to Successful Breast Feeding”, showing the necessity for the followings : 1) Healthcare staff should understand the importance of breastfeeding, 2) Mothers should be informed of the advantages of mother’s milk and should be given concrete guidance in breastfeeding, and 3) The family, community, and society should provide support for breastfeeding after discharge of the mother/child from institutions. For the success of the 10 steps, healthcare staff should actively be involved in various activities such as the utilization of parents’ child care leave and the establishment of support groups in the community. In addition, it is important to promote breastfeeding that healthcare staff provide support that enhances mother’s self-efficiency feeling for breastfeeding.