Have any on you who work in hospitals developed a hospital wide policy on
breastfeeding mothers.  I'm sure those of you who are going Baby Friendly
have this covered but... for those of us who are struggling with politics in
hospitals... this could be a very key step in all of our health facilities
having such a policy.
As the hospital lactation consultant... I have gotten steadily more and more
calls from different dept. about breastfeeding moms... pumping issues, med
issues, mastitis etc.... I think the reason for this is that our society is
seeing more breastfeeding and for a longer period!! Health care as a whole
needs to address this.  So I'm wondering what is out there already?  I will
be proposing to our hospital patient care services that we have a hospital
policy on breastfeeding.  On admission every woman of childbearing age
should be asked if she is nursing a child.. this would be considered
important as an age specific question that would identify every mother or
child who is nursing and then the admitting nurse would set up a care plan
that would cover breastfeeding specific issues.  The policy would be
developed by an interdisciplinary team that could include MD, RN,
Pharmacists, RD and breastfeeding mother from the community... The group
would study literature that would address policies.. The Ten Steps of
course! We would have pumping criteria addressed, medication use, milk
storage issues, nursing order for a lactation consultation, education to all
hospital depts... There you have it... Baby Friendly.. one way or another
All hospitals should have a policy for this.
Linda Rosetti RN, IBCLC

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