title: Developing a policy to support breastfeeding in women who are hospitalized and acutely ill.
abstract: Breastfeeding support is a key part of caring for childbearing women. When a woman is acutely ill, hospitalized and breastfeeding, there can be a focus on initiating or maintaining breastfeeding in challenging circumstances. This article describes the development and implementation of a policy to identify, educate and support acutely ill women and their families in reaching their breastfeeding goals. A case study highlights how we supported the initiation of breastfeeding in an adult intensive care unit. Considerations for obstetric nurses when postpartum women are hospitalized on nonobstetric units are shared.
authors.affiliation: Women and Babies Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, USA. jo.watson@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.forename: Billarar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008503:Medical Staff / Q000193:education; D009773:Obstetric Nursing; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012944:Social Support