Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing Commons^™

Electric Breast Pump Use Increases Maternal Milk Volume In African Nurseries, Ida Slusher, Tina Slusher, Margaret Biomodo, Fidelia Bode-Thomas, Beverly Curtis, Paula Meier

Ida Slusher

Health experts worldwide recognize breastmilk as the superior infant food. Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization (WHO) identify exclusive breastfeeding for the first half-year of life and continuation of breastfeeding into toddlerhood as offering maximum protection from illness, providing a substrate for immunological protection. Data from developed countries identify increasing morbidity and mortality rates for infants who have never received breastmilk in life and demonstrate that infants benefit from exclusive breastfeeding, especially, in areas of severe poverty. Preterm infants, most at risk for morbidity and mortality in developing countries, are identified as needing their …