We dispense breastmilk in both the newborn nursery/special care nursery and 
the pediatric floor. We use the two RN identifier system. Both RN's must 
identify the patient and the milk. I don't know if I agree that it is a 
"blood product" because blood is type specific and human milk is not; 
however, the legal implications for giving the wrong breastmilk to the wrong 
mother could be an issue especially if the two RN system is not in place. 
It sure would be easier on us if we could use a PCT. All of our LC's are 
RN's.

Elisabeth Coble, RN, CPN, IBLCLC


-----Original Message----- 
From: Pamela Poe
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2015 1:31 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Hospital dispensing of breastmilk

We are re-writing our hospital policy on safe dispensing of human breast 
milk.  I am the hospital Lactation Consultant.  We do 1000 births a year and 
do not have a NICU setting.  We rarely have a mother pumping and storing 
milk perhaps under 5 patients per month, so very low.  Most of these 
patients are Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome babies who are breastfed and have 
to stay to be monitored.

We are looking at going toward a 2 person identifier when it comes to 
dispensing.  I am suggesting that it does not have to be 2 nurses to serve 
as the identifiers.  I am suggesting it can be a lactation consultant, an 
RN, a social worker, midwife, Registered Dietician, any hospital employee 
that has been educated on the safe distribution and handling of human milk. 
The other identifying person could be a mother or father to serve as the 2nd 
identifier.  I have one nurse who is insisting that it must be 2 RN’s as 
this is a “blood product” and that is why it must be a nurse.

I am writing for education and recommendations on this matter since you are 
the experts.  How does your hospitals do this??

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