Breastfeeding

The Academy endorses human milk and breastfeeding as the preferred method of infant feeding. Representing the Academy on the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, Diane Spatz authored Core competencies in human milk and breastfeeding: Policy and practice implications for nurses in the July 2014 issue of Nursing Outlook. Advocating for workplace accommodation, the Call to Action: Ensuring Reasonable Break Time for Nursing Mothers was published in the March 2013 issue of Nursing Outlook. The Board of Directors in 2012 approved the Academy's endorsement of the Core Competencies in Breastfeeding Care and Services for All Health Professionals. The Academy actively has pursued opportunities to support the Surgeon General's Call to Action, which outlines the health benefits of breastfeeding for infants and mothers.

Policy & News:

• Press Release (January 25, 2011): Fellows Lead American Academy of Nursing at Surgeon General's "Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding"
• Nursing Outlook Editorial: The surgeon general's call to breastfeeding action-policy and practice implications for nurses, Diana L. Spatz, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN
• Policy Brief: A call to action: Ensuring reasonable break time for nursing mothers. Nursing Outlook 61 (March 2013) 117-119. 
• Policy Brief: WIC (The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children): Policy versus practice regarding breastfeeding. Nursing Outlook 61 (November 2013) 466-470. 
• Policy Brief: The surgeon general’s call to breastfeeding action-policy and practice implications for nurses. Nursing Outlook 59 (May 2011) 174-176.

Experts:

• Breastfeeding Expert Panel

Raise the Voice, Edge Runner:

• Diane L. Spatz - 10 Steps to Promote & Protect Human Milk and Breastfeeding in Vulnerable Infants