Using Principles of Newborn Behavioral State Organization to Facilitate Breastfeeding

In Brief In recent nursing literature, mothers of newborns have been shown to associate satisfaction in breastfeeding with behaviors of their infants related to state organization. This suggests a positive relationship between newborn behavioral state management and breastfeeding success. This article can help all nurses who facilitate breastfeeding in their clinical practice, for it describes newborn behavioral states, explores the phenomenon of state organization, and applies this knowledge to breastfeeding, offering specific nursing interventions and a rationale for their use. We all want to help women with breastfeeding. This expert nurse explains how we can be better at that job, while teaching women what they need to know about newborn states.