A physician-directed, comprehensive program, bridging obstetrics and
pediatrics, prenatal and postnatal, maternal and infant care, and charged
with the responsibility for:
Clinical Care
Research
Education
Generating community and foundation support
Clinical Care
Goal: Evaluation and revision of hospital policies and practices
to improve the promotion and support of breastfeeding the preterm and
term infant.
Objectives:
Increase the initiation and one month post-discharge breastfeeding
rates of well newborns born at LPCH.
In the NICU’s and Intermediate Nurseries
at all LPCH sites, increase the average 2-week post-partum 24-hour
pumped milk volume in pump-dependent
mothers.
Increase the one-month post-discharge breastfeeding rates in premature
infants discharged from LPCH and satellite nurseries.
Research
Goal: Initial research goals will focus on real or perceived
impaired milk production as the most common reason cited for early discontinuation
of breastfeeding the term infant. This is also true of the preterm infant
with the additional challenge of failure to transition the infant from
gavage feeding to breastfeeding.
Examples of Specific Aims
Identification of influential factors (pre-glandular, glandular and
post-glandular) of lactogenesis in the pump-dependent mothers of premature
infants.
Evaluation of breastmilk markers, such as breastmilk sodium, for
their clinical usefulness in the evaluation of lactogenesis in the
pump-dependent mother.
The relationship of multiple births and parity to milk production.
The frequency of hypernatremia in newborns admitted for treatment
of hyperbilirubinemia in order to document the association of impaired
lactogenesis, hypernatremia and hyperbilirubinemia.
Evaluation of the effects of the manipulation
of the fat content in human milk on growth, GE reflux and "colic", including the association
of hyperlactation, fat-poor milk and "colicky" behavior.
Education
Goal: Heighten sense of interest, responsibility and competence
of obstetrical and pediatric staff and students in supporting and promoting
breastfeeding of the preterm and term infants.
Objectives:
Integrate breastfeeding basics into existing curriculum for students
and house staff including at least composition and benefit of human
milk, physiology of lactogenesis and physiology of milk transfer in
breastfeeding.
Provide ongoing in-service education in a user-friendly format at
multiple locations regarding clinical issues in breastfeeding, including:
Breastfeeding management of the infant with medical problems such
as hypoglycemia, cleft lip/palate and prematurity.
Breastfeeding management in the mother with medical problems such
as HIV, herpes, drug treatment and addiction, and localized breast
infection/inflammation.
Prevention and management of common problems such as impaired production,
latch-on and cross-cultural communication.
Community and Foundation Support
Goal: Enhance awareness, involvement and support for breastfeeding
from the general and philanthropic community.
Objectives:
Organize and launch support and education groups for mothers of preterm
infants at each LPCH NICU site.
Solicit opportunities to provide education to community groups on
the social, medical and fiscal benefits of proactive intervention to
support breastfeeding women.
Develop partnership with community organizations that provide family
support to include breastfeeding education and support techniques.
For more information, please contact Jane Morton, MD
Breast Feeding Medicine
Program