I am a hospital based lactation consultant on a mother baby unit. We do
approximately 3300 deliveries/yr. We have 1.5 FTE to cover our unit. We
also cover NICU,PEDs,PICU,ER...pretty much anywhere we are needed. Our
administrator does not feel the need for any FTE's in our NICU .
Unfortunately we do not get to spend much time in the NICU due to the
amount of work on our own Mother baby unit (i saw 24 moms yesterday in
addition to 3 NICU moms, 2 PEDS moms and a mom in our adult ICU + phone
calls---we also run weekly support group and do bimonthly prenatal
breastfeeding classes)....Currently there are 30+ babies in the NICU and
there is a high need for assistance for these moms. very few breastfeeding
friendly nurses in our NICU...they are Breastmilk friendly...just don't
want to be helping the moms breastfeed...

Anyway, we are looking at some big issues that i was wondering how other
NICU's address. Please email me offline with your practices on these items.

1. Storage containers....currently using ross volufeeds with lids. would
like to switch to medela bottles or bags. also capitol vial has come
up ..anyone finding one better than the other?

2. Documentation of breastfeeding ......currently no set format. on mother
baby we use LATCH system. not so sure it would work with preemies.....how
are you documenting your feeds at breast?

3. Any one using individual refrigerators at bedsides? we just had a case
of wrong milk given by a mom to her baby...at present, all milk is stored
together in one refrigerator.

4. Any creative ideas how to warm frozen milk at bedside? we currently put
milk in styrofoam cup to warm...

also, we are looking for educational material in form of self learning
packet for new NICU employees??? anything already out there?

thank you,
Beth Kushner-Giovenco RNC,BSN,IBCLC
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