For Physicians and Other Health Care Providers

This area of our website is full of information for the doctors, nurses, and countless other health care professionals who care for nursing moms and their babies.  We know it takes a village to support a breastfeeding family, and we look to you to provide accurate, evidence-based information and advice!

“Given the documented short- and long-term medical and neurodevelopmental advantages of breastfeeding, infant nutrition should be considered a public health issue and not only a lifestyle choice. The American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirms its recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for about 6 months, followed by continued breastfeeding as complementary foods are introduced, with continuation of breastfeeding for 1 year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant.”  — AAP’s Policy Statement on Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk (2012). 

• Directory of Chicago-area IBCLC lactation consultants in private practice, for referrals

• Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Protocols provides 25 evidence-based, breastfeeding-friendly protocols on everything from allergic proctocolitis to hyperbilirubinemia.

• WHO Growth Charts for breastfed babies, from the CDC

• NEWT (evidence-based newborn weight loss assessment tool from Penn State U, Children’s Hospital)

• Chicago-area Breastfeeding Support Groups, for referrals

• Infant Risk Center is a treasure-trove of helpful information on medication safety while breastfeeding.  You can reference safety information by contacting the center directly or looking up information via their mobile app for HCPs (iPhone or Android).  Dr. Thomas Hale, director of the Infant Risk Center, has also published the authoritative reference, Medications and Mother’s Milk, which is out in its 16th edition.

• AAP’s Section on Breastfeeding Health Professionals Resource Guide

• Illinois Physicians’ Statement on Breastfeeding

• Information on ankyloglossia (tongue tie) and lip tie
  • Congenital Tongue Tie and Its Impact on Breastfeeding, AAP Section on Breastfeeding
  • Diagnosing and Understanding the Maxillary Lip-Tie as it Relates to Breastfeeding, Journal of Human Lactation

• Information on Domperidone for low milk supply
  • Informational handout on Domperidone from Dr. Frank Nice, RPh, DPA,CPHP
  • Journal of Human Lactation, 2014: Use of Domperidone to Increase Breastmilk Supply

• Miscellaneous Health Topics
  • CDC Oral Rehydration Protocol for Management of Acute Gastroenteritis Among Children
    • States that, “Breastfed infants should continue nursing on demand.”
  • Vitamin D recommendations, from AAP’s Section on Breastfeeding
    • Note: Many moms find that the vi-Sol vitamins bother their baby’s stomachs due to all the artificial colors and preservatives.  Please consider recommending a 2-ingredient drop available at health food stores such as Carlson’s or Baby D drops.  Mom can drop a single drop on her nipple before nursing to administer it.
  • Iron supplementation recommendations from AAP
    •  See also: Experts Challenge Iron Supplement Recommendation Policy and Concerns with Early Universal Iron Supplementation of Breastfeeding Infants
      
  • Nighttime breastfeeding
    • Breastfeed Chicago’s Nighttime Breastfeeding FAQ
    • Does Your Older Baby Still Need Night Feedings? from Breastfeeding USA

• Professional Development
  • Chicago Area Breastfeeding Collation (CABC)’s Physician Education Initiative
    
  • Northeastern University’s Free Webinar for pharmacists: Expanding a Pharmacist’s Role in Breastfeeding: Continuing Pharmacy Education (CPE) Online Tutorial
  • CABC also hosts quarterly meetings, an annual educational conference (Fall), and honors breastfeeding-friendly physicians and nurse practitioners with an annual award and dinner reception (Spring).
  • Wellstart International for free lactation management self-study modules
  • AAP’s Management of Common Breastfeeding Problems (Powerpoint)
  • How Doctors Can Help: The US Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding

• Thank You for Breastfeeding thumb cards for your patients, who feel comforted knowing you are an educated and supportive health care provider!  Thanks for all you do to support us!

• And, last but not least is support for YOU! Dr. Milk is an organization dedicated to physician support for breastfeeding because physicians are a high-risk breastfeeding group prone to early weaning.  Dr. Milk has their own closed Facebook group too.