BREASTFEEDING SURVEY AND NEW PROGRAM AT DOYLESTOWN HOSPITAL
07/23/2009
Doylestown Hospital Celebrates World Breastfeeding Week
Offers New Donated Breast Milk Program
Doylestown Hospital Associates who help promote the benefits of breastfeeding have something extra to celebrate this year during World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7). Results from a recent survey show the percentage of new moms who breastfed their babies while at Doylestown Hospital and continued to breastfeed at home was much higher than national and state averages. Breastfeeding is widely acknowledged as important to the health of both mom and baby. Breast milk is easy to digest and contains antibodies that can protect infants from bacterial and viral infections. Research indicates that women who breastfeed may have lower rates of certain breast and ovarian cancers.
Director of Maternal Child Services at Doylestown Hospital Hannie Banister and her staff were interested in seeing if their numbers met recommended guidelines for breastfeeding. These include the Healthy People 2010 guidelines, which are the nation's health goals developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2010 recommends that 75% of new moms breastfeed in the early postpartum period, 50% should still be breastfeeding at 6 months, and 25% should still be breastfeeding at 12 months. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed for about the first 6 months of life.
Hannie and her staff received 384 responses (about a 30% response rate) from women who had a baby at Doylestown Hospital in the past year. They found that 93% of respondents solely breastfed while at the hospital. "We have one of the largest breastfeeding populations in the area," notes Hannie.
The numbers in the hospital were good, but how did they hold up at home? At 6 months, 70% of new DH moms responding to the survey were still breastfeeding. Compare that to the U.S. national average of 43% and the state average of 36%. At 12 months, 40% of those DH moms continued to breastfeed. Nationally the rate is about 21% and statewide the rate is just 16%.
Lyn McNair is Doylestown Hospital's full-time lactation consultant. Coverage by Lyn and other consultants is available seven days a week during daytime hours. Several nurses are also certified as lactation consultants, and the LDRP nursing staff attended a mandatory class on how to help new mothers with breastfeeding. Research shows the care and attitude of a hospital affects the likelihood that a new mother might breastfeed or not. "New moms at Doylestown are encouraged to breastfeed if possible and are given the support they need," says Lyn. About 85% of Doylestown Hospital new moms choose breastfeeding while in the hospital. That's the typical average (not from the survey).
The hospital rents and sells the most up-to-date breastfeeding pumps and supplies. Education is a large part of the mission, notes Hannie, adding, "We feel our patients really feel strongly about the importance of breastfeeding and that our lactation consultation program is successful."
Hannie and Lyn are excited to initiate a donated milk program at Doylestown Hospital. Money donated by a patient will be used to help purchase 46 bottles of pasteurized frozen human breast milk from a milk bank in Ohio. The breast milk will be available to new moms of preemies or moms who for whatever reason can't produce enough milk of their own, but still want their baby to receive the benefits of breast milk during their earliest hours. "The neo-natologists strongly support the program," says Hannie. Doylestown is one of a growing number of hospitals in this country and around the world that offer their patients a donated breast milk program. Policies and procedures are being finalized and the program should launch soon.
