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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