All mothers at some point make a decision about whether to breast- or formula feed their infant. Marital status, education, age, culture, and confidence have all been identified as variables affecting this decision. Previous research has concentrated on the decision-making process in breastfeeding mothers. This qualitative descriptive study investigated the beliefs, attitudes, and decisions of both breast- and formula-feeding mothers. Four categories were identified influencing maternal decision making: (a) infant nutritional benefits, (b) maternal benefits, (c) knowledge about infant feeding, and (d) personal and professional support. Analysis of the data indicated that mothers differed in their choice depending on whether they were infant- or maternal-centered and that most women combine both methods of feeding.

The aim of this descriptive study was to investigate how health-care providers perceived their role in breastfeeding and maternal support. Data was collected via interviews of 53 health-care professionals that provided care to breastfeeding women. The emerging themes included (a) understanding the benefits of breastfeeding: often lacking current knowledge, (b) lacking consistency: gaps between knowledge of benefits and actual clinical practice, (c) not knowing how to help: lack of assessment and therapeutic skills, and (d) understanding the barriers to breastfeeding: how health-care providers can make a difference. Data analysis suggests inconsistencies between the health-care provider's perceived support and behaviors, lack of knowledge, and significant lack of skill in the assessment and management of breastfeeding couples.

Objective:To determine whether a difference in breastfeeding behaviors could be observed between newborns whose mothers received epidural analgesia for labor pain relief and those newborns whose mothers received no pain medication in labor.Design: There were two groups of neonates in this study. One group was born to mothers who received epidural analgesia, and one group was born to mothers who received no pain medication for labor. Both groups were observed for initial breastfeeding behaviors using the Premature Infant Breastfeeding Behavior Scale following birth and at 24 hours. Central nervous system functioning in the newborn was measured with the Neurologic and Adaptive Capacity Score at 2 and 24 hours of age.Setting: A large tertiary hospital in northeast Ohio.Participants: Fifty-six breastfeeding mothernewborn dyads. All mothers were healthy multiparae who gave birth vaginally to normal, full-term, healthy newborns.Main Outcome Measures: Newborns were observed for rooting, latch on, sucking, swallowing, activity state, and neurobehavior.Results: There were no statistically significant differences in breastfeeding behaviors at birth or at 24 hours of age.Conclusion: A possible cause for the lack of significant results may have been the ultra low dose of bupivacaine and fentanyl used in this sample.

When determining physiologically what is important for the infant to successfully latch on and feed, it appears that an intact and functioning central nervous system may be one of the crucial elements.

Population health is a concept that has been developed over several centuries by many disciplines. Over time various aspects of the concept have dominated as issues related to behaviors and beliefs surrounding health practices have emerged. This has created a cadre of terms that are often used interchangeably but have different meanings among various disciplines. This paper will review the concept of population health within the discipline of nursing and discuss its relationship with public health, community health, and population-focused care.