Integrating Infant Mental Health with Breastfeeding Support: Five Years of the Trifecta Approach

Abstract

Although often perceived as being “easy” or “natural,” breastfeeding can be a complex and emotional experience for new mothers and their families. Breastfeeding mothers often receive varied and conflicting advice from multiple providers. This paper presents an integrated infant mental health model of breastfeeding support called the Trifecta for the breastfed infant. Developed in 2011 in the Breastfeeding Management Clinic at the Children's Hospital Colorado, this unique program evolved to best meet the needs of the breastfeeding mother–infant dyad. The Trifecta team integrates a pediatrician with breastfeeding medicine experience, a nurse/lactation consultant, and a psychologist with expertise in infant mental health to provide multidisciplinary breastfeeding support. Integrating infant mental health and breastfeeding support provides a unique opportunity to promote health and mental health in the youngest babies. A program description, case examples, five years of demographic data, limitations, and challenges are provided and discussed.