RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Clinical and Legal Considerations Regarding Breastfeeding on Psychiatric Units
JF Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
JO J Am Acad Psychiatry Law
FD American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
SP 200
OP 207
DO 10.29158/JAAPL.210086-21
VO 50
IS 2
A1 Marissa P. Caan
A1 Nina E. Sreshta
A1 Jennifer A. Okwerekwu
A1 Jacqueline S. Landess
A1 Susan Hatters Friedman
YR 2022
UL http://jaapl.org/content/50/2/200.abstract
AB Women in the postpartum period are at especially high risk of developing psychiatric disorders, and in severe cases, they may require inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. Because of the lack of specialized units for peripartum mothers in the United States, this treatment is usually relegated to general inpatient psychiatric units. Despite the clear benefit of breastfeeding for both mother and child, lactation can be a barrier to placement on a general inpatient psychiatric unit and often is not supported during the hospital stay. Limiting access to inpatient psychiatric care for postpartum mothers with mental illness could be considered sex discrimination under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) because of failure to accommodate lactation. With improvements in education and accommodations around breastfeeding, general inpatient psychiatric units could provide appropriate care for this population.