Running head: AYM1 SERVICE PLAN BRIEF
Service Plan Brief for
Breastfeeding Education Clinic
December 22, 2020
Lacey Stielow, BSN RN
Western Governors University
PAGE 1
,AYM1 SERVICE PLAN BRIEF
Service Plan Brief for Breastfeeding Education Clinic
Breastfeeding Education Clinic
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure a child’s health. Children who
are breastfed perform better on tests and have less risk for obesity, allergies, respiratory tract
infections, diarrhea, and asthma among others. The American Academy of Pediatrics (2012)
recommends that breastfeeding should take place exclusively until 6 months and continued while
complimentary foods are introduced until at least age one. The World Health Organization
(2020) recommends that all children be breastfed exclusively until 6 months of age and continue
supplementary breastfeeding with table foods until at least two years of age or however long is
desired by the mother and child. According to CDC (2020) in 2017 only 41.8% of infants were
exclusively breastfed through three months, and only 24.8% were breastfed exclusively until six
months of age.
Although breastfeeding is often toted as natural and viewed as something “second nature”
to women, it is anything but easy. Sixty percent of women report that they do not breastfeed as
long as they had intended to. They reported that issues with production, latching, concern of
what medications to take while breastfeeding, concerns about infant nutrition and weight,
difficulty with pumping, as well as lack of support as major barriers to successful breastfeeding
(Odom et al., 2013). Studies found that most women ceased breastfeeding within the first month
after they experienced difficulties due to lack of support. It was also reported that clinicians are
unable to provide the necessary time at routine well-child checks to provide adequate evaluation
and treatment for breastfeeding related issues (Farver, 2016).
The proposed service plan is to open a lactation clinic serving women, infants, and
children in Marion County, Iowa. Findings show that mother’s low trust of their own breastmilk
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, AYM1 SERVICE PLAN BRIEF
and low breastfeeding knowledge and support, especially if experiencing breastfeeding
problems, are some of the main reasons they have negative breastfeeding experiences and stop
breastfeeding (Tekin Babuc & Avci, 2020). Mothers that have participated in breastfeeding
intervention and education have shown longer duration for breastfeeding and report a higher self-
efficacy (Chipojola et al., 2020). The goal of the service plan is to provide lactation support,
education, and counseling to women throughout their breastfeeding journey. Nurses and lactation
consultants will assist women in overcoming barriers in order to be successful in breastfeeding
their child and increase the percentage of infants exclusively breastfeeding for the first six
months in Marion County, Iowa.
Importance for the Population
Breastfeeding has shown to have many health benefits not only for the child but for the
mother as well. Women who breastfed were shown to have a decreased risk of ovarian and
breast cancer as they age. They also show increased bone density in breastfeeding women thuss
reducing their risk of osteoporosis. Breastfeeding also has been shown to help regulate blood
sugar levels, especially in women who have diabetes, and help reduce future risk of diabetes for
others. Breastfeeding also has a natural fertility regulation (Blincoe, 2005).
Decreased Health Risks and Healthcare Costs
Breastfeeding can decrease medical costs. Breastfeeding has shown to have positive health
benefits for infants and decrease incidence of illness, obesity, allergies, gastroenteritis, and SIDS
(Quesada et al., 2020). It can decrease non-medical costs resulting from lost wages from a
caregiver missing work for a sick infant or child. It can also decrease cost of early death and
disease. Studies have shown breastfeeding can decrease or prevent disease and illness risks for
the infant and the mother (Oliveira et al., 2019).
PAGE 3
Service Plan Brief for
Breastfeeding Education Clinic
December 22, 2020
Lacey Stielow, BSN RN
Western Governors University
PAGE 1
,AYM1 SERVICE PLAN BRIEF
Service Plan Brief for Breastfeeding Education Clinic
Breastfeeding Education Clinic
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure a child’s health. Children who
are breastfed perform better on tests and have less risk for obesity, allergies, respiratory tract
infections, diarrhea, and asthma among others. The American Academy of Pediatrics (2012)
recommends that breastfeeding should take place exclusively until 6 months and continued while
complimentary foods are introduced until at least age one. The World Health Organization
(2020) recommends that all children be breastfed exclusively until 6 months of age and continue
supplementary breastfeeding with table foods until at least two years of age or however long is
desired by the mother and child. According to CDC (2020) in 2017 only 41.8% of infants were
exclusively breastfed through three months, and only 24.8% were breastfed exclusively until six
months of age.
Although breastfeeding is often toted as natural and viewed as something “second nature”
to women, it is anything but easy. Sixty percent of women report that they do not breastfeed as
long as they had intended to. They reported that issues with production, latching, concern of
what medications to take while breastfeeding, concerns about infant nutrition and weight,
difficulty with pumping, as well as lack of support as major barriers to successful breastfeeding
(Odom et al., 2013). Studies found that most women ceased breastfeeding within the first month
after they experienced difficulties due to lack of support. It was also reported that clinicians are
unable to provide the necessary time at routine well-child checks to provide adequate evaluation
and treatment for breastfeeding related issues (Farver, 2016).
The proposed service plan is to open a lactation clinic serving women, infants, and
children in Marion County, Iowa. Findings show that mother’s low trust of their own breastmilk
PAGE 2
, AYM1 SERVICE PLAN BRIEF
and low breastfeeding knowledge and support, especially if experiencing breastfeeding
problems, are some of the main reasons they have negative breastfeeding experiences and stop
breastfeeding (Tekin Babuc & Avci, 2020). Mothers that have participated in breastfeeding
intervention and education have shown longer duration for breastfeeding and report a higher self-
efficacy (Chipojola et al., 2020). The goal of the service plan is to provide lactation support,
education, and counseling to women throughout their breastfeeding journey. Nurses and lactation
consultants will assist women in overcoming barriers in order to be successful in breastfeeding
their child and increase the percentage of infants exclusively breastfeeding for the first six
months in Marion County, Iowa.
Importance for the Population
Breastfeeding has shown to have many health benefits not only for the child but for the
mother as well. Women who breastfed were shown to have a decreased risk of ovarian and
breast cancer as they age. They also show increased bone density in breastfeeding women thuss
reducing their risk of osteoporosis. Breastfeeding also has been shown to help regulate blood
sugar levels, especially in women who have diabetes, and help reduce future risk of diabetes for
others. Breastfeeding also has a natural fertility regulation (Blincoe, 2005).
Decreased Health Risks and Healthcare Costs
Breastfeeding can decrease medical costs. Breastfeeding has shown to have positive health
benefits for infants and decrease incidence of illness, obesity, allergies, gastroenteritis, and SIDS
(Quesada et al., 2020). It can decrease non-medical costs resulting from lost wages from a
caregiver missing work for a sick infant or child. It can also decrease cost of early death and
disease. Studies have shown breastfeeding can decrease or prevent disease and illness risks for
the infant and the mother (Oliveira et al., 2019).
PAGE 3
