The role of nurses in promoting breastfeeding in infants separated from mothers

Abstract

            Exclusive breastfeeding provides significant health benefits for both infants and mothers, as breast milk contains essential nutrients and enhances the infant’s immune system. Additionally, it promotes strong maternal-infant bonding. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside complementary foods until at least two years of age or beyond, applicable to both healthy newborns and those with medical conditions. However, infants with health problems often require immediate separation from their mothers after birth for medical treatment or monitoring in infants with health complications, limiting their opportunity to initiate breastfeeding early and sustain exclusive breastfeeding for six months. Nurses play a crucial role in the care of these infants, requiring knowledge and skills to promote, support, and facilitate successful breastfeeding among mothers.

            This article aims to describe the nurses’ roles in promoting breastfeeding among infants separated from their mothers, including assessing maternal and infant readiness for breastfeeding, promoting and supporting breastfeeding in separated infants and to deriving lessons learned from a case study to provide guidance for sustaining exclusive breastfeeding continuously.