title: Breastfeeding and the neonatal ward.
abstract: The evidence base showing the huge importance of breast milk for preterm babies is growing all the time. Human milk can help save the lives of vulnerable babies as well as help prevent some of the long-term complications. Breast milk is being seen as one of the most potent medicines for these babies. Yet practice in many neonatal wards is lagging behind the evidence. In this article, Sarah Vincent interviews Dr Paul Meier, one of the high profile speakers coming to the 2011 UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Conference later this year, who has carried out pioneering work into caring for preterm babies at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. In her unit, where breastfeeding initiation rates are now 98 per cent, much of the care is carried out by well trained peer supporters who have been through the experience themselves and whom mothers can easily relate to. Dr Meier has also carried out research into the importance of the first two weeks for establishing a milk supply for mothers using a milk pump.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Vincent
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007229:Infant Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008880:Midwifery / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009035:Mothers; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000379:methods; D014480:United Nations; D014481:United States; D014944:World Health Organization