AOA Stands Strong on Breastfeeding

7/21/2003

From: Karyn Gianfrancesco of the American Osteopathic Association, 312-202-8042, 800-621-1773, ext. 8042

CHICAGO, Ill., July 21 -- The American Osteopathic Association's (AOA) House of Delegates voted Saturday, during their Annual Business Meeting in Chicago, to encourage all women on methadone maintenance and in stable recovery from drug and alcohol abuse to exclusively breastfeed their children. The delegates concluded that the health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for those infants whose mothers were in drug and alcohol recovery were beneficial and that the low levels of methadone in breast milk did not have adverse effects on newborns.

In addition, the AOA House of Delegates voted to encourage its members to help protect mothers who breastfeed in public spaces from public decency laws in each state by contacting their elected officials and supporting protection of breastfeeding.

The AOA's House of Delegates, comprised of more than 500 osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) and osteopathic medical students from across the country, meets annually in July to set organizational policies and elect new officers.

The AOA represents approximately 49,000 osteopathic physicians (D.O.s), promotes public health, encourages scientific research, serves as the primary certifying body for D.O.s, and is the accrediting agency for all osteopathic medical schools and health care facilities.