An account of significant events influencing Australian breastfeeding practice over the last 40 years.
BACKGROUND
Low breastfeeding duration rates reflect the pain and distress experienced by many women who discontinue breastfeeding in the early weeks and months of life. This paper explores modern key historical events that have significantly influenced Australian breastfeeding education and practice.


METHODS
Relevant literature reviewed from 1970 to 2010 identified key events that appear to have contributed to the decrease in Australian breastfeeding rates and the increase in women experiencing breastfeeding complications, particularly nipple pain and trauma.


CONCLUSIONS
The rise in institutionalisation and medical intervention in labour and birth has also medicalised midwifery practice. Technocratic intrusion and institutionalised care is contributing to the separation of the mother and newborn at birth. Delayed mother-baby initiation of breastfeeding and interruption of the duration of the first, and subsequent breastfeeds, negatively affects the innate ability of the mother and newborn to establish and sustain breastfeeding. The 'pathologising' of breastfeeding that involve midwives teaching women complicated and unnatural breastfeeding techniques interfere with instinctive sensory and mammalian behaviours and further contributes to the high complication rates.


CONCLUSIONS
Midwives are encouraged to reflect on their role as 'experts' in the breastfeeding process and give confidence to women so that they utilise their instinctive ability to breastfeed by self-determined techniques that encourage mammalian skills for newborn sustenance and survival.
Thompson
Robyn E
RE
Australian Catholic University, Qld 4014, Australia. midwife@bigpond.net.au
Kildea
Sue V
SV
Barclay
Lesley M
LM
Kruske
Sue
S
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends*; D008880:Midwifery / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends*; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends*