Faculty and doctoral students at Penn Nursing are at the forefront of advancing human milk feeding through a series of research studies, featured in the current issue of MCN The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing . The issue, edited by Penn Nursing 's Diane L. Spatz, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN, FAWHONN , the Helen M. Shearer Professor of Nutrition and Professor of Perinatal Nursing in the Department of Family and Community Health , highlights articles showcasing critical strategies to enhance lactation care and improve outcomes for families.
These investigations highlight critical strategies, from empowering frontline healthcare providers and fostering supportive work environments to standardizing language, all aimed at enhancing lactation care and improving outcomes for families. Recent studies underscore the vital role of nurses and the broader healthcare team in supporting breastfeeding journeys:
- Guidelines for Primary Pediatric Care Providers to Help Patients Establish and Protect Milk Supply A study led by Courtney N. Slater and Spatz details the critical role of primary pediatric care nurses in the early establishment of a robust milk supply. The research emphasizes that the period shortly after birth is a crucial window for lactation, often missed by traditional postpartum assessments. The authors provide a resource for nurses to prioritize strategies such as frequent and effective milk removal (8-12 times in 24 hours), responsive feeding based on infant cues, promoting safe skin-to-skin contact, and facilitating connections to lactation support specialists.
- Nurses Partnering with Medical Assistants to Enhance Breastfeeding Care in the Pediatric Primary Care Setting Nicole Conover and Spatz explored how medical assistants (MAs) can be empowered to provide crucial breastfeeding support. Their findings indicate that most MAs surveyed were already offering informal support and expressed a strong interest in additional training to expand their roles. This research highlights the potential for MAs to be valuable partners with nurses in enhancing care within pediatric primary care settings, addressing the decline in breastfeeding exclusivity observed in the first six months postpartum.
- Nurse Work Environments and Exclusive Breast Milk Feeding during the Birth Hospitalization Research by Aleigha Mason and colleagues investigated the link between nurse work environments during labor and birth and the rates of exclusive breast milk feeding during birth hospitalization. The study found a significant association between good or mixed nurse work environments and higher hospital-level exclusive breast milk feeding rates. Interestingly, the hospital's "Baby-Friendly" status alone was not a significant predictor in their models. This suggests that supportive nursing environments are paramount in enabling nurses, who are instrumental in breastfeeding initiation, to optimize outcomes.
- Promoting Accurate Language on Lactation from Prenatal to Postpartum Nina A. S. Juntereal, and Spatz address the challenge of inconsistent and ambiguous terminology in lactation. Given that many healthcare professionals receive limited formal education in lactation, the study emphasizes the necessity of precise and consistent language to improve communication and care. The authors introduce "LactaPedia," a free online glossary designed to standardize lactation terminology for healthcare providers and the public, ultimately enhancing evidence-based education, support, and intervention.
"Collectively, these studies from Penn Nursing underscore a multi-faceted approach to improving human milk feeding," said Spatz. "From early intervention in primary care and optimizing team collaboration to ensuring supportive work environments and promoting clear communication, Penn Nursing researchers are driving evidence-based changes that empower healthcare providers and support families in achieving their breastfeeding goals."
About the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) is one of the world's leading nursing schools. It has been ranked the #1 nursing school in the U.S. by QS University for a decade. Our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is among the top-ranked programs in the nation, according to the 2025 U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges rankings. Penn Nursing also consistently earns high rankings in U.S. News & World Report's annual list of best graduate schools and is a top recipient of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for nursing research. Penn Nursing prepares nurse scientists and nurse leaders to meet the health needs of a global society through innovation in research, education, and practice. Follow Penn Nursing on: Facebook , X , LinkedIn , YouTube , & Instagram .
