Chicago, IL, August 27, 2024: The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) has released a revision of its 19th Clinical Protocol, “Breastfeeding Promotion in the Prenatal Period," originally published in 2015. In this updated version, prenatal and breastfeeding medicine practitioners are supplied with even more evidence-based recommendations, helping individuals and organizations to advocate for integrating prenatal breastfeeding promotion into their existing systems.  

Breastfeeding and lactation education should be integrated into routine care as soon as possible in the prenatal period. Healthcare providers, lactation specialists, peer supporters, and families and partners can contribute to necessary breastfeeding promotion during the prenatal stage with the guidance of these concrete recommendations. The updated protocol includes new information on prenatal breastfeeding counseling for pregnant patients with specific health conditions, as well as guidance on evidence-based ways to best provide this education to patients. It is the ultimate tool to advocate for resources and programs that prevent problems with breastfeeding down the road. 

“ABM's revised protocol can be used by prenatal care providers and lactation specialists to ensure appropriate breastfeeding and lactation education is being provided; it can be used by patients as a conversation starter with their prenatal care provider,” says Anna Jack, MD IBCLC, an author on the revision. “We also hope this protocol will serve as motivation to fund and support research about which interventions are cost-effective and/or more effective for certain populations, and help breastfeeding champions advocate for these interventions to be integrated into routine prenatal care at their institutions.” 

Share the protocol with everyone in your network involved with providing prenatal care and integrate it into your existing intervention systems. With this resource as a guide, we can help lactating people achieve their goals and avoid problems before they start.  

Read and share ABM’s free Clinical Protocol #19.  

About the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine 

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is a global organization of medical doctors with over 1,200 members whose mission is to educate and empower health professionals to support and manage breastfeeding, lactation, and human milk feeding in order to achieve healthier lives worldwide through excellence in the medical care of breastfeeding and lactation. We curate, support, and share high-quality research and innovative solutions and strive to ensure that professionals are enabled to support and nurture families with safe and effective care. 

ABM is deeply committed to supporting the breastfeeding medicine community. We are dedicated to offering our protocols, position statements, and patient handouts at no cost to ensure accessibility for all. We would be immensely grateful for financial donations to sustain and enhance our efforts to provide high-quality resources. Your support helps us continue our mission of serving the breastfeeding medicine community with the excellence it deserves. Visit https://www.bfmed.org/donate to learn more.