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Infant Care Advice

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The National Institutes of Health funded a study surveying new mothers to inquire about the source of their infant care advice ranging from baby sleep positions to immunizations to breastfeeding. Sources of advice were classified as health care practitioners such as doctors and nurses, family members, and the media.

New Mothers Don’t Receive Infant Care Advice Says Study

With packed schedules and a completely different set of routines and responsibilities, new mothers may not be receiving appropriate attention from their physicians when it comes to advice on infant care according to a study in Pediatrics.

The study was conducted by researchers at Boston Medical Center, Boston University, and Yale University.

The Study of Attitudes and Factors …show more content…

The authors believe that the physicians may not offer the advice due to lack of knowledge of the recommendations or because the physician does not agree with it.

Physicians Should Offer More Time and Do So Equally

Another revelation of the study was that not all new mothers were treated equal. African American, Hispanic, and first time mothers were more likely to receive guidance from physicians than their white mother counterparts and mothers who had children already.

According to Marian Willinger, Ph.D.., of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), new mothers are more likely to listen to their physician’s advice.

"This survey shows that physicians have an opportunity to provide new mothers with much-needed advice on how to improve infant health and even save infant lives," Willinger said. Physicians should take the extra time for each new mother to explain proper infant care. Learning about infant care and its updated recommendations can save many newborn lives as well as help new mothers cope with the stress and joy that is

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