The Lactation Team
The RPA Newborn Care team recognises that breast milk is the optimal food for babies, particularly the sick and preterm. In collaboration with the medical / nursing team in the neonatal intensive care unit, the lactation service is committed to supporting mothers in their goal to initiate and establish a milk supply for their high risk infant. The lactation team provides support and guidance for the mothers and infants in the neonatal nurseries and also provides a referral and consultation service for the medical / nursing team seven days per week.
The lactation team consists of three registered nurses with graduate qualifications in midwifery and/or neonatal nursing and child health. All lactation consultants have extensive experience in neonatal care and are certified with the International Board of Lactation Consultants (IBLC).
This service uses an inter professional approach that includes the provision of evidence based information, education and emotional support for mothers. The team also works closely with the postnatal midwives while mothers are inpatients and also provides ongoing lactation support and advice after mothers are discharged home. With this consistent support and education mothers are able to consolidate their lactation skills and confidence before discharge of their infants from the neonatal nursery.
The RPA program facilitates the supply of donor breast milk to those infants whose mothers are unable to supply their own milk usually due to illness. Use of donor milk follows discussion between the family and senior medical / nursing personnel and informed consent. Infants who may benefit from donor breast milk include those at high risk of necrotising enterocolitis regardless of gestational age and infants less than 30 weeks gestation where mother's own milk is not available.
Donor milk is often donated by mothers with babies in our nursery who have a supply of milk in excess of their own infant's requirements. These mothers' efforts and generosity are acknowledged as the donor process is complex and includes informed consent before agreeing to the strict screening criteria that is required for the program.
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Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
