Medical Student Research Forum Posters

Breastfeeding is the optimal source of infant nutrition and is important for both infant and maternal health. The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, which are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and form the basis of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, recommend showing parents how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants. However, hospital policies regarding inpatient breastfeeding support outside the postpartum period are lacking. Length of hospitalization has been correlated with parents’ decisions to discontinue breastfeeding post-hospitalization. The increased incidence of weaning following an infant’s hospitalization indicates potentially modifiable factors to prolong breastfeeding duration. Therefore, it is prudent to understand breastfeeding parents’ experiences regarding breastfeeding support and challenges in an inpatient hospital setting.