Letters to the Editor

Promoting Breastfeeding

to the editor: We would like to commend Dr. Sinusas and Ms. Gagliardi for their excellent article on breastfeeding.1 They describe ways for family physicians to facilitate the early initiation and long-term success of breastfeeding in their patients.

The authors suggest the use of the “Ten Steps” of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative of WHO/UNICEF to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding.2 A Baby-Friendly hospital should also adhere to the WHO/UNICEF International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions.3 The code seeks to protect breastfeeding by preventing inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes, feeding bottles, soothers, and complimentary foods when used to replace breast milk.4  To provide an optimal environment for breastfeeding, family physicians and pediatricians should follow the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) listed in the accompanying table5 and ensure that their offices are breastfeeding-friendly.4

Send letters to Kenny Lin, MD, Assistant Editor, American Family Physician, e-mail: afplet@aafp.org , or 11400 Tomahawk Creek Pkwy., Leawood, KS 66211-2680.

Please include your complete address, e-mail address, telephone number, and fax number. Letters should be fewer than 500 words and limited to six references (including citation of original article) and one table or figure.

Letters submitted for publication in AFP must not be submitted to any other publication. Possible conflicts of interest must be disclosed at time of submission. Submission of a letter will be construed as granting the American Academy of Family Physicians permission to publish the letter in any of its publications in any form. The editors may edit letters to meet style and space requirements.

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