By Irene Zoppi

Aug. 1 through 7 marks the 18th annual World Breastfeeding Week. Since the celebration began nearly two decades ago, the body of research on the benefits of breastfeeding has been growing every day.
One of the most complete pictures of recent research was released in April 2007 when the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reviewed more than 9,000 abstracts, 86 primary studies and 29 systematic reviews on breastfeeding.  The report found clear evidence that breastfed babies have a reduced risk of middle ear infections, diarrhea, stomach flu and severe lower respiratory tract infections.  It also found that breastfeeding is likely associated with reduced risk of eczema, asthma, obesity, type 1 and 2 diabetes, childhood leukemia, sudden infant death syndrome and necrotizing enterocolitis (which is associated with the high mortality rate for premature infants).  
Not only will breastfeeding help you get your little one off to the best possible start, the AHRQ study also chronicled numerous benefits for mom.  Women who breastfed had a clearly reduced risk of breast cancer, and breastfeeding was also associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and ovarian cancer.
Nursing provides mom and baby with emotional advantages as well. Breastfeeding is a gentle way for newborns to transition to the world outside the womb. Plus, the skin-to-skin contact that mom and baby engage in while nursing enhances baby’s emotional security and helps mom and baby bond.
From a practical standpoint, breastfeeding also offers some advantages. For moms on the go, breastmilk is always available and always the right temperature. Plus, breastfeeding is easier on the wallet.  In fact, formula can cost about $1,200 per year, according to askdrsears.com.
In light of these benefits, many mothers strive to meet the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation to breastfeed for at least a year.  Unfortunately, most mothers do not achieve that goal. Only 39 percent of babies born in 2004 (the most recent data available) were breastfed when 6 months old, and only 19 percent were breastfed when 1 year old, according to the CDC National Immunization Survey. In order to achieve the one-year milestone, I advise expectant moms to take the following steps:
• Go to the pros. Plan to learn as much as you can about breastfeeding before baby arrives. Sign up for a class about breastfeeding at the hospital where you will deliver. Speak with a certified lactation consultant (visit http://medela.findlocation .com/ to find one near you) and keep her contact information handy in case you run into any hurdles. Don’t forget to check with your insurance provider before you make an appointment, as some cover lactation services. Also, ask friends and family for referrals to pediatricians who are supportive of breastfeeding in your community.  
• Go to your peers. While a good lactation consultant and pediatrician are extremely important to breastfeeding success, sometimes you simply want to talk to someone who has been there before. Support organizations such as La Leche League International (LLLI) and the Nursing Mothers’ Council offer the opportunity to meet and compare notes with other local breastfeeding mothers.  Go to www.llli.org or contact your hospital for support groups located in your area.
• Plan for the next stage. For many mothers, the return to work is a critical junction in their breastfeeding journey. In fact, a 2007 survey by the National Women’s Health Resource Center and Medela found that 32 percent of new mothers gave up breastfeeding less than seven weeks after returning to work because of barriers such as lack of privacy, inflexible schedules or lack of refrigeration.  If you’re planning on going back to work, your first step is to talk to human resources before your maternity leave. Ask for a clean, private place to pump, and remind them that the health benefits of breastmilk will translate into fewer days when you’ll stay home to take care of a sick baby.  Next, make sure you have the right equipment. Choose a double-electric breastpump that mimics what babies do naturally to make pumping as quick and easy as possible. Look for research-based breastpumps that have been demonstrated to imitate a baby’s natural sucking rhythm, which begins with rapid sucking to stimulate milk ejection reflex (MER), followed by longer, deeper sucking once milk starts to flow.
• Get off to the right start. As soon as you arrive at the hospital, tell the doctors and nurses that you are going to breastfeed. Breastfeed as quickly after delivery as possible, preferably within an hour of birth, as this will help you establish your breastfeeding routine and prevent engorgement.  If your baby isn’t ready to feed during the first try, make another attempt in a half hour. If you have a visit from a lactation consultant, ask your partner to stay and take notes, so you have easy access to these tips in the coming days.   
• Go to your support system. Postpartum adjustment isn’t easy. Make sure your partner and close family members are educated on the benefits of breastfeeding, know your breastfeeding goal, and are prepared to offer encouragement and help.
With the proper planning and support you can meet your breastfeeding goal. Years down the road you’ll be glad you persevered, and look fondly on those quiet moments you and your baby enjoyed as you provided the physical and emotional benefits of breastmilk.

Irene Zoppi is an international board certified lactation consultant and a Medela clinical education specialist.