Merrilyn wrote:
<<  For documentation I would like to use
 a tool I received from a fellow LC listing feeding criteria under the
 designations of EBF (excellent breastfeed), GBF (good breastfeed), FBF (fair
 breastfeed), PBF (poor breastfeed), ABF (attempted breastfeed), and OBF (zero
 breastfeed).  The criteria for EBF are listed as: "Good latch with baby's
body
 in alignment; Long draw with a rhythmical (nutritive) suck; Short pauses
 between sucks; Lots of audible swallowing; and Mother needs little or no
 assistance with positioning or latch-on."  The criteria for the subsequent
 designations vary from the above.
 My colleague doesn't remember from which conference she obtained it and there
 are no identifying notations on it.  Does anyone recognize this tool for
 breastfeeding assessment?  I want to be able to document the source and its
 validity.  >>

Linda Kutner and I developed these descriptors a few years ago for use in
documenting breastfeeding in hospitals to make it easier to define what was
going on with breastfeeding.  They have subsequently been published by
Breastfeeding Support Consultants, and in Clinical Issues in Lactation.  You
are free to use them as you see fit -- as is anyone else.  Thanks for
asking!!!

Warmly,

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC