Purpose for the program: To increase breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity and duration rates.

Proposed change:  To implement a breastfeeding peer support practice using hospital employee volunteers.

Implementation, outcomes and evaluation: Our hospital based Parent Services Lactation Resource Center nurses reviewed breastfeeding rates from performance improvement data and research evidence on breastfeeding support. Peer counseling was a practice shown to improve breastfeeding rates, however there were many pros and cons to the various types of peer counseling interventions in various types of care settings. Our team considered the research along with our setting’s clinical and financial resources and chose an innovative approach; recruiting volunteer peer counselors from hospital wide employees (associates) called Associate Breastfeeding Supporters (ABS). The implementation includes the recruitment and training of the ABS and before and after outcomes of breastfeeding initiation, exclusivity, and duration.

Implications for nursing practice: This innovative practice change can be implemented in other hospital childbirth settings

Keywords: breastfeeding, peer counseling, peer group, counseling, social support