Breastfeeding : a guide for the medical profession / Ruth A. Lawrence.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Breastfeeding in modern medicine -- Anatomy of the human breast -- Physiology of lactation -- Biochemistry of human milk -- Host-resistance factors and immunologic significance of human milk -- Psychologic impact of breastfeeding -- Contraindications to and disadvantages of breastfeeding -- management of the mother-infant nursing couple -- Diet and dietary supplements for the mother and infant -- Weaning -- Drugs in breast milk.

(cont) Normal growth, failure to thrive and obesity in the breastfed infant -- Maternal employment -- Breastfeeding the infant with a problem -- Medical complications of the mother -- Human milk as a prophylaxis in allergy -- Induced lactation and relactation and cross-nursing -- Reproductive function during lactation -- Collection and storage of human milk and human milk banking -- Role of mother support groups and community resources.

(cont) Educating and training the medical professional -- Composition of human milk -- Dietary guidance during lactation -- History form for evaluation of infant with failure to thrive -- Normal serum values for breastfed infants -- Drugs in breast milk and the effect on the infant -- Lact-aid nursing trainer system -- Organizations interested in supporting and providing materials for breastfeeding -- Manual expression of breast milk.

(cont) Storage of human milk -- Legislation regarding human milk -- Vitamin and mineral supplement needs in normal children in the United States -- Prenatal dietary prophylaxis of atopic disease -- Silicon testing following breast implants -- Measurements of growth of breastfed infants -- Resources for education and training -- Premature infant nutritional requirements.

Provides clinically-significant information about human milk, management techniques for handling breastfeeding in adverse circumstances and relevant psychological and social issues that impact on parent-infant bonding.