Hi Maria,
The hospital where I work has used the LATCH scoring for the past 20-some years. Prior to this, they used a very unsatisfactory scale of "good-fair-poor." LATCH has allowed for a better understanding of the feeding and where there may be concerns. If there is a need for offering more information, it can be added in a comment box. For example, if the score is 10222, the note would add "baby sleepy," "baby made little attempt to suck," "baby crying, did not settle" - whatever was the cause. The first two score points are primarily baby-oriented where the last three are focused on the mother, so in the score example it is clear that the baby wasn't into the feeding but the mother has everted nipples, had no pain (which doesn't mean much if the baby didn't latch), and was able to position the baby well without assistance. If the score was reversed - 22200 - it would suggest the baby got on to an everted nipple and was feeding effectively enough to transfer milk and swallow BUT it still wasn't an effective latch because the mother needed lots of help and was in pain during the feeding. The note would explain if things improved with changing position, if an oral issue was involved (like a high or channel palate, tongue-tie, etc.), mother has use of only one arm, etc.
I hope that helps,
Cindy Garrison BS IBCLC
practicing in Pittsburgh, PA
Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2016 18:47:19 +0000
From: Marla Newmark <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: LATCH assessment score tool
The hospital where I work is going to start using the LATCH assessment scoring system. I have been reading a lot about it. In my reading I saw that some places use LATCH and other letters. I found the LATCH R, but cannot find any others. (I know that I have read others.) Can anyone help me.
Any of you use the LATCH system, (EPIC) how do you account for the baby, sleepy, etc.
Thank you,
Marla, MOM, IBCLC, BSN, RN
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