[The practice of breastfeeding counseling].
OBJECTIVE
To provide health professionals with information on theory and practice of breastfeeding counseling.


METHODS
MEDLINE, Bireme library, Lilacs, relevant Internet websites, scientific journals, technical books, essays, theses, and national and international publications were selected, studied and used to provide information on the topic. The most important sources of data were: a publication by the World Health Organization (WHO - 1993) and the authors' experience and clinic practice in the assistance of mothers, children and families.


RESULTS
A trained pediatrician plays a relevant role on increasing breastfeeding rates and its duration. To improve this performance, in 1993, WHO designed a 40-hour course using an important didactic strategy aimed at health professionals and mothers. The goal was to protect, promote and support maternal nursing. It is a professional way of dealing with the mother by listening and trying to understand her, offering her help on planning, taking decisions, and getting strength on how to deal with pressures, thus increasing her confidence and self-esteem.


CONCLUSIONS
Scientific evidence proves the effectiveness of Breastfeeding Counseling. Moreover, health professional's knowledge and practice are very important to increase breastfeeding rates.
Bueno
Lais Graci dos Santos
LG
Centro Universitário Lusíada (UNILUS), Santos, SP.
Teruya
Keiko Miyasaki
KM
D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations