As teams progress through the Care of the Late Preterm Infant initiative, feeding has been a strong focus of the work. Many teams have invested time ensuring LATCH scores are being completed consistently and that staff understand what defines a poor LATCH score and what the appropriate follow-up should be for a less-than-ideal score. Several teams have created tools to help staff determine the best support for mothers with low LATCH scores, ensuring they can continue to breastfeed their infants, a crucial aspect of their care.
Additionally, several teams have developed feeding algorithms to guide providers in assessing weight loss and determining if an infant meets the criteria to begin supplementation. Participating teams have shared many tools to strengthen the feeding support of late preterm infants.