Breastfeeding

Featured resources

Breastfeeding information and links (2006)
Rehydration Project
Comprehensive lists of resources on breastfeeding and related topics.

Evidence for the ten steps to successful breastfeeding (1998)
World Health Organization (WHO)
This document outlines the WHO/UNICEF-recommended ten steps to successful breastfeeding and provides rationale for their efficacy, as well as advocacy and education approaches.

Facts for life: Breastfeeding (2006)
UNICEF
This document outlines the health benefits derived from breastfeeding practices.

Persistent diarrhoea and breastfeeding (1997)
WHO Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development
This document outlines the protective properties of breast milk, particularly its role in preventing acute diarrhea and reducing persistent diarrheal episodes among infants and young children up to two years of age.

Guidelines

Breast crawl
This project is a collaboration between the Government of Marahashtra (India), the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India, and UNICEF to promote infant breastfeeding as well as education and training about "breast crawl," a newborn's instinctual response toward the breast of its mother. The site includes a video demonstrating the phenomenon, as well as related research and resources.

Breastfeeding counselling: A trainer's course; Director's guide (1993)
WHO
This resource is targeted toward health care workers for developing the clinical and interpersonal skills needed to support optimal breastfeeding practices. Guides for trainers and participants may be accessed online at www.who.int/nutrition/publications/infantfeeding/en/index.html.

Facts for feeding (2006)
Linkages Project (gathered on Rehydration Project website)
This resource from the Rehydration Project offers publications on recommended feeding and dietary practices to improve nutritional status. Policy makers, health care providers, and communicators can use these guidelines for developing messages and activities appropriate to local conditions.

Research

Appropriate use of human and non-human milk for the dietary management of children with diarrhoea (1991)
Brown K, Lake A. Journal of Diarrhoeal Disease Research. 9(3):168–185.
This paper reviews feeding practices for children with diarrhea and outlines risks associated with the use of non-human milk for feeding during gastrointestinal infection, including the potential for an increase in the severity and duration of illness.

Gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, and breastfeeding (1997)
Golding J, Emmett P, Rogers I. Early Human Development. 49(Suppl):S83–S103.
This literature review determined that exclusive breastfeeding provides a protective effect from gastroenteritis and diarrhea.

Human milk protection against infectious diarrhea: Implications for prevention and clinical care (2004)
Morrow A, Rangel J. Seminars in Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 15:221-228.
This article provides an overview of the health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, as well as its place in diarrhea prevention strategies.

Interventions for the control of diarrhoeal diseases in young children: Promotion of breastfeeding (1984)
Feachem R, Koblinsky M. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 62(2):271–291.
This review analyzed the relative risks of non-breastfed and breastfed infants suffering diarrheal episodes and found that breastfeeding has a protective effect in reducing diarrheal disease incidence. The authors support promotion of breastfeeding through educational outreach to mothers.

Interventions for the control of diarrhoeal diseases in young children: Weaning education (1985)
Ashworth A, Feachem R. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 63(6):1115–1127.
This study evaluated whether education on weaning practices can improve nutritional status among children and therefore reduce diarrheal incidence and severity.

Nutrient adequacy of exclusive breastfeeding for the term infant during the first six months of life (2002)
WHO
This document reviews the impact of exclusive breastfeeding in terms of infant growth, immune response, and neurodevelopment. Nutrients provided through breastfeeding are outlined, including zinc.