A Baby Weigh Station: Continuum of Care for Late Preterm Breastfeeding Infants

Abstract

Late preterm infants who breastfeed are the largest segment of preterm infants. In Columbus, Ohio, the incidence of late preterm infants who breastfed was 9.1% of live births (in 2008) and the rate at our hospital was 7.7% (of 6,456 births/year in 2010). Late preterm infants often appear to be able to breastfeed successfully during hospitalization, (hence, their nickname “the great imposter”), but this may not be sustained following discharge. As 1 of 15 sites for the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses’ 2010 Late Preterm Infant Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines research study, commitment occurred in this hospital’s outpatient setting to measure and improve post-discharge care of late preterm infants who breastfed.