NAPNAP Objects to Recent Article on Breastfeeding

Mar 25, 2009

March 20, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         

Contact: Felicia K. Taylor, ftaylor@napnap.org; (856) 857-9700

Janet D'Alesandro, janetd@ajj.com;(856)-256-2422

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Joins Other Organizations in Objecting to Recent Article on Breastfeeding

Cherry Hill, NJ - The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) has joined several other pediatric health care organizations to protest recent news reports that question the benefits of breastfeeding.

In an article by Hanna Rosin in the April issue of The Atlantic, Rosin, a mother of three who breastfed, questions the medical literature, saying research is inconsistent about the benefits of breastfeeding. In her article, "The Case Against Breast-Feeding," Rosin says popular literature promotes the message that not breastfeeding is dangerous. With confusing messages from medical and popular literature, says Rosin, women feel societal pressure to breastfeed, that it is "a no-exceptions requirement, the ultimate badge of responsible parenting."

Rosin was also recently featured on a Today Show segment, "Is Breast Really Best?" along with Dr. Nancy Snyderman, NBC News Chief Medical Editor, to discuss the benefits of breastfeeding, research and peer pressure.

Following these media reports, David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, FAAP, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), submitted a letter to the editor of The Atlantic stating his objections to the article. In his letter, Tayloe says, Rosin "skims the literature" and has omitted many recent statements including the 2005 AAP statement supporting the value of breastfeeding for most infants." The AAP policy, he writes, "references every statement with scientific evidence from over 200 articles which meet scientific standards for accuracy and rigor."

Tayloe called on NAPNAP and other organizations, including the United States Breastfeeding Committee, La Leche League International, and others, to send their organizations' response to The Atlantic.

"NAPNAP is committed to educating families and health care providers about the importance of breastfeeding and its impact on children's health" said NAPNAP President Linda L. Lindeke, PhD, RN, CPNP. "We stand with the AAP's statements in response to the recent controversy and the scientific evidence that supports breastfeeding."

According to NAPNAP's official position statement on breastfeeding, the vast amount of research states that breastfeeding is a key strategy in promoting infant health and is associated with better nutrition, an improved immune system, fewer ear infections, lower rates of obesity, and other positive health benefits.  

Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) provide families with information about the importance of breastfeeding, provide clinical assistance to mothers, help mothers overcome barriers to breastfeeding and promote breastfeeding efforts within the community.

"As pediatric nurse practitioners we recognize that the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding are integral components of pediatric health care. We work closely with families to make informed choices about a wide range of parenting decisions: including how they choose to feed their children. As Ms. Rosen points out in her article, parenting can be difficult with many challenges, most of which are not exclusive to breastfeeding mothers. It is my hope that the attention her article has received will lead to a renewed discussion of ways we can support women and children in this country. As PNPs we continue to promote the proven scientific benefits of breastfeeding and will empower families to make informed decisions about all aspects of their children's health" said NAPNAP Breastfeeding Education Special Interest Group Chair Kelly Nordstrom, MSN, PNP-BC.

Not only do PNPs work directly with mothers, but NAPNAP has also published studies in their journal, The Journal of Pediatric Health Care which supports breastfeeding.  In addition, the NAPNAP conference in San Diego, CA, in March hosted education sessions about the latest findings in breastfeeding.

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NAPNAP is committed to improving the health care of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.  An association of nearly 7,000 health care providers throughout the United States, NAPNAP has 48 chapters nationwide. For more information, call 856/857-9700 or visit NAPNAP's Web site at www.napnap.org.

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