ABSTRACT
Mothers of late preterm infants need ongoing support because they often find establishing breastfeeding (BF) to be complex and difficult. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children peer counselors provide BF information and emotional support to new mothers in many communities. However, their current training does not include education about BF for the late preterm infant. The purpose of this report is to present important information about BF and the late preterm infant that can enhance peer counselors' ability to offer appropriate support. The effect of this education on outcomes such as BF rates, maternal self-efficacy, infant hospital readmissions, and peer counselors' self-efficacy needs to be investigated.
Subject(s)
Breast Feeding , Child Nutrition Sciences/education , Counselors/education , Food Assistance/organization & administration , Infant, Premature/physiology , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Lactation , Peer GroupABSTRACT
Mothers of late preterm infants need timely breastfeeding support after hospital discharge. Breastfeeding peer counselors with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) can provide this support, but communication with hospitals is needed to facilitate early contact with women. We aimed to develop and implement a sustainable organizational process that would expedite support by providing WIC peer counselors access to mothers of late preterm infants before hospital discharge. Key strategies included creating a workable process; addressing barriers and stakeholder concerns; planning a pilot program to test the process; and inviting the WIC breastfeeding peer counselors to tour the hospital, meet nursing staff, and practice scripting their initial encounter with mothers. The organizational pathway currently is being implemented throughout the health system.
