Hello All,

Looking for responses from those who work in large volume maternity hospitals about what you use for alternative feeding devices when supplementation is  needed or chosen by parent in the early postpartum days.  

I work in a large maternity hospital (8400 births annually).  We currently use curve tipped(periodontal) syringes , spoons and condiment cups ( small plastic cups from the dietary department). We previously used the soft  silicon diaphragms from the electric pump kits for cup feeding and they worked beautifully but this became cost prohibitive to get them in bulk from the company to prevent staff from opening a pump kit each time they need a cup.  

Challenges  with our currently used tools include:
1. spoons come in bulk from dietary- not individually wrapped so staff have concerns about cleanliness with all the hands that reach into the bin to grab a spoon
2. cups - firm plastic, not as easy to manipulate comfortably for new parents challenged by being immediately post partum and now faced with a feeding issue/challenge
3. periodontal syringes- pointed rough tip is intimidating for new parent and difficult to use with fussy baby. 
4. Stringent cost containment efforts are in place that require any new item be vetted through a system wide committee( so we can’t just buy something new without systematic review/trial)

We do use 1 cc syringes for the small bits of colostrum but these syringes are not suitable for times when larger volumes are needed. The larger syringes that are stocked for meds don’t have long enough “hubs” to allow the tip to be placed just beyond the baby’s lips for finger feeding.

We are recently Baby Friendly Designated so continue to work on reinforcement of all the10 Steps that decrease the need for supplementation. That said, we have a large high risk OB population and also a significant number of families who even after prenatal and in hospital education opt to give formula along with breastfeeding from the start- practicing  "Las Dos". We encourage use of an alternative feeding method at least in hospital for these families but struggle to find a method that is acceptable and easy for both staff and parents to use.  

Any ideas?

Please email privately if you want to suggest a brand or supplier.
Thanks all,
Cindi Zembo, RN IBCLC
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