In the NCCC LS 8 of our 13 teams focused on developing action plans that either shorten time to first pumping for mothers or assure mom is being discharged with at least a just in time pump, secured at discharge or on the way home after being discharged. Centers described a number of approaches to these critical action plan considerations. Included were an order in OB order sets that requires mom be instructed in and offered the opportunity to pump after delivery, use of "pump" magnets or labels to alert maternal staff to need to attend to support a mom's pumping, needs, discussing the need for pumping at the same time consent for transfusion is obtained from parents, formalizing communication bewteen maternal and NICU nursing staff, and physicians/NNPs incorporating discussions of mom's pumping status as part of admission and rounds procedure in the NICU. Once center discussed their targeted efforts on increasing pump availability to mom's at discharge via communication with the WIC office pre-discharge of the mother.
All agreed that communication and education of the importance of maternal milk is a critical foundation for all these efforts. These efforts need to target not only mothers but staff. Several centers commented on the persistent willingness of some staff to refuse to accept the clearly demonstrated benefits of maternal breast milk on nutrition for the premature infant. All teams were necouraged to continue efforts to recruit medical provider support in these efforts. Several attendees discussed the need to more effectively communicate the work of the PQCNC EHM team to all staff members.
Pumping logs were discussed, specifically the development of a pumping log that best supports our work and is engaging for families. Forsyth, Gaston and UNC agreed to consider this and prepare a concept log for possible reproduction via PQCNC.
Family presentations reported two decidedly different hospital expereinces related to pumping and caring for a hospitalized extremely preterm infant. These conversations made it clear that when we seek patient and family input, we are exposed to views related to our care we might never appreciate. All were encouraged to seek family members to become part of their EHM team.
Keep up the great work everyone. The efforts to improve practice and deal with key drivers outline din the action plans is clearly occuring. Critical also is that we develop methods at our hsoptials to enter the data that supports the great work being done!
