The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of 60,000 pediatric medical, surgical, and multidisciplinary subspecialists committed to the attainment of optimal, physical, mental, and social health for all children, adolescents, and young adults.

Nearly one-half of the 60,000 members of the Academy belong to one or more sections. Sections develop ideas and generate programs that improve the care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Although their primary goal is education, sections also are involved in policy development, public education, and advocacy for children.

In July 2000, the Academy established a Section on Breastfeeding to offer networking and educational opportunities for AAP members interested in breastfeeding promotion and management. Currently the Section has approximately 650 members, making it one of the larger Sections of the Academy.

For information on how to join the Section on Breastfeeding click here!

Breastfeeding and Lactation: The Pediatrician's Guide to Coding - REVISED 2008! The Section on Breastfeeding has recently revised its coding document to help you get paid for your breastfeeding and lactation support. This tool is a great resource to have in your practice. To view the coding document click here. This document has been reviewed and approved by the AAP Committee on Coding and Nomenclature.

Breastfeeding: Baby's First Immunization Posters - The AAP's Section on Breastfeeding has created a new poster for your waiting and exam rooms. Show parents how important breastfeeding within the first hour is to the health of their baby. Click here to download the PDF of this poster. This poster may be re-printed in its exact state.

Breastfeeding and Disasters - Have you considered the impact that both natural and human-made disasters have on infant feeding? Check out the AAP's new Infant Nutrition During a Disaster fact sheet! Visit the new Breastfeeding and Disasters Web page here where you will find the new fact sheet as well as many other resources to help you prepare before and assist during a disaster.

Breastfeeding Support and Promotion Speaker's Kit - This presentation was created by the Section on Breastfeeding to make it easy for you to go out and present information on this topic to your colleagues, staff, Chapters, etc. Download this presentation with accompanying speaker's notes and use it as an educational tool to teach others.

The objectives of the Section on Breastfeeding are the following:

Maintain a permanent body for development of AAP policy recommendations on breastfeeding.
Enhance and expand educational efforts of the Academy in the area of breastfeeding, including presentation of educational sessions at AAP national meetings, coordination of national Continuing Medical Education (CME) conferences, development of educational publications and curricula, provision of materials and technical assistance to practitioners, and other educational initiatives.
Develop liaison and collaborative relationships with other sections and committees of the Academy and with outside organizations.

Educational and Networking Opportunities: The Section will hold an annual business meeting at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition. In addition, the Section will sponsor educational sessions and activities at AAP national, state, and other conferences. See past NCE Abstracts here: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.

Breastfeeding Promotion in Physicians' Office Practices Program: The Breastfeeding Promotion in Physicians' Office Practices (BPPOP - Phase III) program provides pediatricians, obstetricians, family physicians, and other health care professionals with the latest scientific information, culturally competent promotional materials, and strategies for increasing breastfeeding rates in racially and ethnically diverse patient practices.

Chapter Breastfeeding Coordinators: The role of the AAP Chapter Breastfeeding Coordinator is to encourage state activities related to the support and promotion of breastfeeding. The Section oversees the activities and national Continuing Medical Education (CME) conferences for the Chapter Breastfeeding Coordinators. Section members benefit from this activity by having the opportunity to network individually with coordinators and work collaboratively to initiate and implement breastfeeding related activities.

Recognition: Members can highlight their programs and activities in the newsletter Breastfeeding: Best for Baby and Mother, published electronically several times a year. Submissions are accepted on a continuous basis.

Development and Publication: The Section has developed many publications including:
The Breastfeeding Handbook for Physicians
Breastfeeding: Baby's First Immunization Posters
Infant Nutrition During a Disaster Fact Sheet
Breastfeeding and Lactation: The Pediatrician's Guide to Coding

When the Section develops a new product, the members of the section will receive a complimentary copy while supplies last.

Policy Statements: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk was published in the February 2005 issue of Pediatrics. The 2001 WIC Program policy statement is under revision. The Prevention of Rickets and Vitamin D Deficiency: New Guidelines for Vitamin D Intake is published in the April 2003 issue of Pediatrics and is currently under revision.

All Section members receive the following benefits:

• Participation in annual section scientific and business meetings at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition

• Regular electronic mailings of the periodical Breastfeeding: Best for Baby and Mother and other educational materials

• Access to the Section Web page containing special information for members

• Networking opportunities through participation in electronic mailing lists, section sub-committees, and section meetings; and member-to-member contact at chapter, district, or national meetings

• Access to AAP staff who can help answer questions and provide additional information on Academy activities

• Opportunities to participate in educational program development, consultation, and provision of technical assistance

Membership in the Section is open to fellows and residents of the Academy with an interest in breastfeeding promotion. Members of the Section may vote on issues related to Section business and be elected to serve as Section Executive Committee members.

Applications for section membership can be requested from the AAP Division of Member Services at 800/433-9016, ext 7143. Interested AAP members also can apply on the Member Center by clicking on Member Services. Dues are $35 per year for fellows and $10 per year for residents.