Hi Cindy!

We have just begun to use the LATCH assessment in our hospital, which
delivers about 300 babies per month with a 80 - 90% breastfeeding rate.
 Since computer charting was being introduced, we decided that one more
change for the nursing staff wouldn't hurt a thing!  Previous to LATCH, if
anyone in the hospital said, "Breast", everyone freaked and called for the
LCs!  Now nurses from postpartum and newborn nursery are responsible for
seeing and assessing a breastfeeding at least once per shift.  Inservices
were given on LATCH as well as the basics in good latching (yet again!!).  We
have been "live" for the last 3 weeks, and have already seen an improvement
in the behavior of the nursing staff.  They seem to be taking a greater
interest in breastfeeding and pay much closer attention to how the baby is
nursing.  That leaves time for the LCs (1 and 1/2 per day!) to see the
problem mother-baby dyad. (Of course, we have those few die-hards who refuse
to have anything to do with breastfeeding and would much rather force-feed a
baby with a bottle or OG tube!)

We have found it necessary to be more descriptive on every catagory due to
the way the computer charting is set up, but that has proven helpful to all.
 At this point, we continue to iron out the litte problems but would rate the
LATCH system overall an A+.

Hope your session goes well.  Can't wait to see you in person this July!

Kathy Parkes, RN, IBCLC