Supporting breastfeeding of babies in neonatal units.
Breastmilk is invaluable for premature and sick babies. Recognition of the unique qualities of breastmilk has led to increasing encouragement to women to express breastmilk for their babies, if they are unable to feed directly from the breast. The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) had become increasingly concerned about the shortcomings in some areas in the practical and professional support available to women wanting to breastfeed when their babies are in neonatal units. The NCT therefore funded an investigation of the provision of facilities to express breastmilk in hospitals, including the availability of electric breast pumps for loan to mothers at home. We found that facilities for mothers in hospital were patchy, with only a third of neonatal units providing a separate room where mothers could express breastmilk or breastfeed in private. More than half the units on which we collected information had no specialist breastfeeding professional available. A quarter of units loaned out free electric breast pumps and a further 28% were able to provide some free breast pumps. 24% of hospitals did not provide any pumps to mothers who needed to express breastmilk at home while their babies were in hospital.
Dodds
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires