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Can Placing a Lactation Consultant in the OB Office Magically Increase Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates?

Monday, June 16, 2014 : 10:45 AM

Title: Can Placing a Lactation Consultant in the OB Office Magically Increase Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates?

Coronado M-T (Disney Coronado Springs)
Cindy A. Bass, MSN, RNC-OB, LCCE , Family Birth Center, Johnson City Medical Center, Johnson City, TN
Marsha Rodgers, RNC-OB, MSN , Family Birth Center, Johnson City Medical Center, Johnson City, TN
Hannah R. Baker, RN, BSN, CLC , Family Birth Center, Johnson City Medical Center, Johnson City, TN

Discipline: Childbearing (CB)

Learning Objectives:
  1. Verbalize three benefits to locating Lactation Consultants in OB offices
  2. Identify three discussion topics many moms face regarding their feeding choices
  3. Describe three benefits the hospital can achieve from providing the LC to the OB office
Submission Description:
Purpose for the program: Exclusive breast milk feeding is being promoted by healthcare providers and even the Joint Commission. In one organization the matrix was just not moving as quickly as would be desired. An innovative idea was trialed and was successful by placing Lactation Consultants in the obstetrical offices during the prenatal period. Expectant mothers obtained information and education related to breastfeeding while making one of the most important, informed decisions about the care of their baby.

Proposed change:  The purpose of placing Lactation Consultants (LC)  in the OB practice office is to offer continual visibility regarding the feeding choice for their baby.  The lactation consultant has a captive audience as the mother waits to be seen for her routine prenatal visits, she has the opportunity to begin thinking about her feeding choice, is offered the opportunity to ask questions in a non-threatening atmosphere and does not require mom to go anywhere else for the entire length of her pregnancy.  The continual  visibility of the LC provides the idea of breast milk feeding being a normal process.

Implementation, outcomes and evaluation:  Leadership identified the need to improve exclusive breastfeeding rates.  While determining possible plans of action, awareness of where the lactation consultants made their first contacts in conjunction with when the pregnant mother is making her feeding choice seemed to be an innovative plan of action to improve outcomes.     Collaboration between the physicians’, their offices, the lactation consultants and senior hospital leadership ensued to finalize details of placing the lactation consultants in the OB offices and be available for consults within the hospital practice setting.  A funding opportunity from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Women’s Health provided the extra funding for the project.    Data collected provided information that demonstrated lactation services in the offices did have a positive impact on breastfeeding rates.  Exclusive breastfeeding rates of 33% from December of 2012 to greater than 60% August, 2013 have been experienced. 

Implications for nursing practice:   Providing the education throughout the pregnancy offers the new mother an opportunity to make an informed decision regarding the feeding choice for her newborn.  As she begins to breastfeed her newborn, her confidence is bolstered.  The frontline nurses can begin at the knowledge base of the new mother regarding breastfeeding, and continue to support and promote her feeding efforts.  

Keywords:   Breastfeeding, Lactation Consultants, Feeding Choice

See more of: A4 - Oral Paper Presentations on Breastfeeding
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The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.