title: Breastfeeding peer counselors as direct lactation care providers in the neonatal intensive care unit.
abstract: In 2005, the Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Rush University Medical Center initiated a demonstration project employing breastfeeding peer counselors, former parents of NICU infants, as direct lactation care providers who worked collaboratively with the NICU nurses. This article describes the conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation of this program and provides templates for other NICUs that wish to incorporate breastfeeding peer counselors with the goal of providing quality, evidence-based lactation care.
authors.affiliation: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Paula_Meier@rush.edu
authors.forename: Paula P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Engstrom
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rossman
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D002641:Chicago; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D007774:Lactation; D010379:Peer Group; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation
keywords: breast pumping; breastfeeding; breastfeeding peer counselors; human milk; lactation care; mother-to-mother support; neonatal intensive care unit