Introduction
Breastfeeding is one of the activities that are crucial for improving the health of both infants and their mothers. This paper will focus on the lack of breastfeeding as a problem that can have dangerous impacts on newborns and women. Furthermore, it will describe an intervention that may be useful in addressing this issue. In particular, much attention should be given to the benefits of providing information about the nutrition of children. Overall, healthcare professionals should work on the education of women during the prenatal stage because, in this way, they can help families avoid many health complications.
Identification of the Problem
The lack of breastfeeding is one of the factors that pose a serious threat to the wellbeing of children and their mothers. Researchers note that this problem is associated with several risks to the health of a newborn, for example, the infections of the respiratory tract, food allergies, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and so forth (Kwabi-Addo, 2017). Moreover, it can have an adverse effect on the cognitive development of a baby (Kwabi-Addo, 2017). Due to these reasons, medical workers argue that mothers should breastfeed their children for at least six months (Pollard, 2017). This requirement is vital for safeguarding the health of the infant.
One should also remember that breastfeeding enables mothers to improve their physical wellbeing after pregnancy. For instance, this activity is essential for reducing weight, minimizing the risk of ovarian cancer, and coping with postnatal depression (Buttaro, Trybulski, Polgar-Bailey, & Sandberg-Cook, 2017). Additionally, this activity can diminish the likelihood of breast cancer (Buttaro et al., 2017). Thus, the health of mothers is another aspect that should be considered while discussing the role of breastfeeding.
There are several reasons why many women do not breastfeed their babies. Some of them are unable to do it due to certain physiological causes; in particular, it is possible to consider the low supply of milk and breast pain (Pollard, 2017). Nevertheless, in some cases, this problem can be attributed to the lack of knowledge about the benefits of breastfeeding and the risks of not doing it. Furthermore, sometimes, they are not confident in their ability to breastfeed an infant. To address this issue, one can rely on the PICO (Patient, Intervention, Control, and Outcome) framework. This proposal will be based on the following PICO question:
Can breastfeeding education provide at the prenatal phase increase the likelihood of a parent breastfeeding at the postpartum stage?
To a great extent, this discussion is premised on the assumption that medical workers can act as educators. In particular, they can increase patients’ awareness of the benefits and risks associated with different lifestyles. Moreover, these professionals can modify people’s behavior in a way that will minimize the threats of different illnesses.
The Description of the Proposed Change
The intervention will focus on the education of mothers during the prenatal stage. To implement it, medical workers should take several steps. Firstly, obstetricians, midwives, and nurses should talk to pregnant women and describe the benefits of breastfeeding. Much attention should also be paid to the risks of not breastfeeding newborns. Furthermore, medical workers should describe the effects of this behavior on the health of mothers.
Hospitals should also distribute booklets and guides, highlighting the importance of breastfeeding for promoting health. In addition to that, these guides should explain how women can breastfeed their children. Such steps can increase their motivation for breastfeeding and make them more confident in their skills. In the long run, such initiatives can improve the health of many people.
Anticipated Benefits to the Nursing Profession
The proposed intervention can achieve several improvements in the work of nurses. As it has been said before, the breastfeeding of babies can reduce the risk of illnesses (Buttaro et al., 2017). Therefore, such steps can reduce the necessity for hospitalizations and frequent visits to pediatricians. Consequently, nurses and physicians will be able to focus on the needs of those children whose illnesses are not caused by the lack of breastfeeding.
To a great extent, this intervention stresses the benefits of preventive measures that eliminate potential threats. If it is properly implemented, fewer patients will require the assistance of nurses. Secondly, this intervention can help nurses develop their communicative and educational skills. This initiative will enable them to become better professionals who will actively promote healthy lifestyles.
Conclusion
This discussion shows that breastfeeding is critical for improving the health outcomes of women and their children. The task of medical workers is to ensure that mothers are willing and able to breastfeed their babies as long as possible. By performing this task, nurses and physicians will ensure that newborns are better protected against various threats like asthma or diabetes. Additionally, they can help mothers preserve their health.
To achieve this goal, healthcare providers should act as educators who can change the behavior of patients. They should actively communicate with mothers and help them become more knowledgeable and confident. Overall, this project will focus on the PICO question related to the impacts of education on breastfeeding activities of mothers. In particular, it is necessary to determine if the information received by women during the prenatal stage can increase the likelihood of breastfeeding during the postpartum phase.
References
Buttaro, T., Trybulski, J., Polgar-Bailey, P., & Sandberg-Cook, J. (2017). Primary care: A collaborative practice (5th ed.). New York, NY: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Kwabi-Addo, B. (2017). Health outcomes in a foreign land: A role for epigenomic and environmental interaction. New York, NY: Springer.
Pollard, M. (2017). Evidence-based care for breastfeeding mothers: A resource for midwives and allied healthcare professionals (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.