Clinical Practice Breastfeeding Recommendations for Primary Care: Applying a Tri-Core Breastfeeding Conceptual Model

The Necessity of Breastfeeding – Promoting Breastfeeding in the Primary Care Setting; A Community Pilot Project Applying the Tri-Core Breastfeeding Model: Beyond the Basics

“…The foundation for the pilot project originated in the three core EBP interventions conceptualizing the Tri-Core model [1] (see Appendix A): a) improving lactation support, b) enhancing maternal and staff lactation education, and c) fostering maternal confidence in their ability to breastfeed (selfefficacy). Lactation support interventions were developed with the aim of improving access to professional lactation counseling, establishing office BF policy and protocols, enacting a Baby-Friendly office environment, and encouraging all healthcare providers to practice the most current EBP guidelines and modalities for breastfeeding management based on the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine's (ABM) clinical protocols (2015) [30].…”

“…Educational practice site staff in-services were conducted to improve all HCP's general BF knowledge, program intervention awareness, establishment of a staff BF Champions team, and distribution of new educational materials. On-going office support was provided on how to translate their lactation care into the Tri-Core model approach and incorporate the ABM's EBP clinical protocols [1,30]. Offices were able to immediately disseminate newfound knowledge to fostering breastfeeding education and promotion among patients.…”

“…Even with such an extensive literature review, a useable conceptual BF model was not identified to help guide those in the primary care setting to promote BF. Upon close examination of the literature findings, the chief-author has developed a primary care BF model applying the three core elements titled 'The Tri-Core Breastfeeding Model' [1].…”

“…An infant's first and preferred source of nutrition should be their mother's breast milk when ever at all possible [1,2]. Promotional lactation interventions are desperately needed in the community to initiate and foster breastfeeding efforts in the United States and worldwide.…”

“…Recent research by scientists at the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil identified a significant correlation in brain development, IQ, verbal and nonverbal skills, and adult income directly proportional to the duration of breastfeeding [4]. Experts have agreed, "breast feeding is the most beneficial health promoting and disease-preventing activity a new mother can perform and is the utmost preferred infant nutrition, and only with rare exceptions is it ever contraindicated" [1].…”