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Date: | Fri, 20 Sep 2013 07:37:46 -0400 |
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Theresa says:
I'm a hospital based IBCLC and have a question about requiring all NICU
mothers to wash their breasts with soap
and water before expressing. I recently spoke to our Infection Prevention
Director who mentioned that the plan is
to institute a policy requiring all our NICU mothers to wash the breasts
each time before expressing. She mentioned that she has researched it and
has found substantial evidence to support this practice.
We have always advised hand washing before expressing, but not universal
breast washing.
I'm wondering if this is current best practice and advised?
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Arghhhh....has that old chestnut resurfaced? Do mothers have to wash
breasts and nipples before breastfeeding as well? I would love to see her
"substantial evidence." She may find articles that state washing will reduce
the number of bacteria on her breasts/nipples, but the REAL bottom line
question is, does the practice reduce the morbidity and mortality of the
babies?
"Back in the day..." (I'm allowed to say that because I'm OLD), we
required all mothers who were breastfeeding -- the one a month or so we had back
then -- to wash their nipples with green soap and rinse with sterile water
before breastfeeding. Imagine what this did to the mother's nipples and her
psyche.
Anyway, I could be mistaken, but I do not believe this is current
acceptable practice for a host of reasons. Washing hands -- absolutely -- think of
where your hands have been and what they do. Washing breasts that are
just hanging out in a bra? Why?
I'd ask your "Infection Prevention Director" just what she is trying to
accomplish thru this.
Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, FILCA
Wheaton IL
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