In recent decades, global healthcare professionals and organisations have formed a wide, evidence-based consensus that breastfeeding is usually the best option for both mother and baby. However, women and professionals alike often face a sea of shifting attitudes and values, and complex social, cultural, political and economic factors that may influence women's feeding decisions. This book examines the global evidence, and the factors that affect women's decisions around initiating breastfeeding and maintaining it through the first year of their children's lives. It outlines potential areas for development and policy change at practitioner and strategic levels, and shows how health professionals can effectively communicate and provide information to help women make unpressured but informed decisions. Breastfeeding - Contemporary Issues in Practice and Policy is essential reading for healthcare professionals, policy movers and shapers, and all those with an interest in breastfeeding who wish to influence the development of related policies, practices and healthcare services.

Janet Dalzell, Elizabeth Rogerson

Introduction. Exploring the Politics and Practices of Breastfeeding. The Promotion of Breastfeeding: A Time and a Need to Change. Initiating Breastfeeding: a Time for Change - Listening to the Experiences of Mothers. Supporting the Continuation of Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding and Nutrition. Towards Evidence-Based Practice. Concluding Remarks.