Improving Breastfeeding rates at West Suffolk Hospital Colleen Greenwood Infant Feeding Co-ordinator West Suffolk Hospital

Where we have come from? We applied for assessment for the UNICEF Baby Friendly Certificate of Commitment in August 2011, and we were awarded the Certificate of Commitment in February 2012. This involved us committing to having a newborn feeding policy and to train all staff having any contact with breastfeeding mothers.

Statistics 2010-2011 Our breastfeeding initiation rate for the year April 2010 –March 2011 was 71% At handover of care from Midwife to health visitor the breastfeeding rate was 58% At the 6 week visit the breastfeeding rate was 45%

Where we have come from In February 2013 we had our Stage 1 assessment. This involved assessment of the newborn feeding policy, assessment of staff training, assessment of information given to pregnant women and new mothers. The Infant feeding lead had 7.5 hours per week

Statistics April 2011 –March 2012 Our breastfeeding initiation rate for the year was 74% (71%) At handover from Midwife to health visitor the breastfeeding rate was 65% (58%) At the 6 week visit the breastfeeding rate was 48% (45%)

Staff Training By the time we had our stage 1 assessment we had trained: 92% of Midwives and Maternity Care assistants 82% of Neonatal nurses 66% of our Paediatricians 55% of our Obstetricians

Where are we now? Since July 2013 the WSCCG has funded a full time infant feeding co-ordinator. We are working towards Stage 2 accreditation which has to be before February 2015 We are auditing staff, processes, pregnant women and postnatal mothers to see where we need to improve the service

Where we are now I visit the children’s ward, neonatal unit, labour suite and birthing unit and the postnatal ward every day to give support to staff and see any women requiring help with breastfeeding. I am contactable on a designated bleep We are still training staff, and now see all doctors on their induction

Statistics for Quarter 1 2013 Our breastfeeding initiation rate for quarter 1 was 77.7% (74%) At handover of care from Midwife to health visitor the breastfeeding rate was 62% (65%) At the 6 week visit the breastfeeding rate was 48% (48%)

Plans for the future Our targets Breastfeeding initiation 80% Breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks 49% To continue to train staff on UNICEF training To audit, audit, audit and make changes in practice where necessary To ensure that pregnant women get clear information on the benefits of breastfeeding

Peer Support Service We have just commissioned a peer support service from FAB. The aim of the peer support service is: To increase emphasis on areas of deprivation, most notably Haverhill, Brandon and Sudbury To increase the number of women who breastfeed exclusively for the first six months. To raise public awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding To reduce inequalities and access to breastfeeding support for women in low income areas To increase choice by providing a range of services across different settings

Community Setting Work within the community midwifery team as part of an integrated service. To introduce the service to the women antenatally, raising awareness of the peer support programme provided at home and in Children Centres post-natally   Support at breastfeeding workshops and in antenatal clinics, giving parents information on the benefits of breastfeeding, allowing them to make an informed choice about feeding their baby. Contact all breastfeeding women within 48 hours of discharge from the hospital to offer a home visiting service providing a minimum of 2 home visits

Hospital setting To provide peer support on the antenatal/postnatal ward, neonatal unit and paediatric ward to help women successfully breastfeed their baby within the first 48 hours. The peer supporter would also provide support on the neonatal unit and the paediatric ward for women who are expressing breast milk to maintain lactation.