Your Key to Improving Breastfeeding Outcomes

Abstract

Paper Presentation Purpose for the Program To share best breastfeeding practices with other similar units to help encourage and promote higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding among hospitals. Proposed Change Increased exclusive breastfeeding rates are best achieved with specific, measureable, attainable, realistic, and timely goals. This is attainable through evidence-based policies, staff education and training, active nurse involvement, and collaboration of the multidisciplinary health care team. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation In 2011, Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center established a multidisciplinary breastfeeding committee with the goal of improving exclusive breastfeeding rates. Through the work of this committee, evidence-based practice changes were implemented to promote and ensure exclusive breastfeeding, including the delay of routine procedures, such as vitamin K injection, providing skin-to-skin contact for the first hour after delivery, and the practices of the Colorado Can Do 5. The committee worked diligently to update policies, educate nurses in postpartum units, develop a Breastfeeding 101 presentation for labor and delivery nurses to gain their active involvement in breastfeeding after delivery, and develop breastfeeding competencies to be used in the annual skills laboratory. New nurses were required to spend time with lactation consultants during their orientations, watch a skin-to-skin video, and were educated with the practices of the Colorado Can Do 5. In addition, the committee developed consent forms for the use of donor breast milk and educated the staff. Parents were educated about the benefits of using human milk and were encouraged to use donor milk rather than formula. The unit purchased breastfeeding pillows and breast pumps for each patient room, which made breastfeeding very convenient for all mothers. Lastly, breastfeeding was supported along the continuum of care by offering free prenatal breastfeeding classes and postdischarge support groups. Within 2 years, the hospital has met and exceeded these important milestones related to exclusive breastfeeding, which increased the baseline exclusive breastfeeding rate from 34.1% to 85.7%. In addition, this hospital has partnered with pediatricians and the Colorado Perinatal Care Council, Health Department to improve the health of newborns across the state. Implications for Nursing Practice Nurses tracked three unit outcomes, including breastfeeding core measure, skin-to-skin contact, and breastfeeding documentation for each shift for a full year. The data collected enabled the team to track demonstrable evidence of ongoing breastfeeding education and incremental gains in breastfeeding success rates. The unit continues to see improving and sustained results.