A quality improvement project to increase breast milk feeding of hospitalized late preterm infants in China

International Breastfeeding Journal

Research

Laura Placke Ward¹  Meiying Quan²  Lin Wang²  Zhenghong Li²  Shuju Feng²  Jing Yuan²  Yalin Jing² 

[1] Division of Neonatology, NICU, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Ohio, United States;Pediatric department, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Disease, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, No.1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing, Dongcheng District, 100730, Beijing, China;

关键词: Quality improvement;    Breastfeeding;    Late preterm infant;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13006-023-00582-0

 received in 2022-03-29, accepted in 2023-08-12,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe breastfeeding rates of late preterm infants are lower than both term and extremely preterm infants. To explore the interventions of increasing full breast milk feeding rate of hospitalized late preterm infants on the 7th day after birth (D7) and evaluate the effect of these quality improvement (QI) interventions.MethodsThe full breast milk feeding (amount of enteral breast milk reached 120ml/kg/d on D7) rate of hospitalized late preterm infants during May 2017 and November 2017 was set as the baseline before intervention, and the specific aim of promoting breast milk feeding was put forward. The Pareto Chart was used to analyze the factors that affect breast milk feeding process, as well as the discussion of multidisciplinary experts. Key drivers were constructed, including informational materials and education about breast milk feeding, consultations and support on optimal breast milk initiation, initiating breast milk expression within one hour after birth, accurate measurement and recording of expressed breast milk, stimulating continuous and effective lactation, proper breast pump selection in and out of hospital and sending and preserving of expressed milk to NICU. Control chart was used to monitor the monthly change of full breast milk feeding rate until the aim was achieved and sustained.ResultsThe baseline of full breast milk feeding rate of late preterm infants was 10%, and the aim of QI was to increase the rate to 60% within a two-year period. Control chart dynamically showed the full breast milk feeding rate increased to 80% with the implementation of the interventions, achieved and made the aim of QI sustained.ConclusionQI interventions including breast milk feeding education, early postpartum breast milk pumping, kangaroo care to stimulate breast milk secretion, and convenient way of transporting breast milk to NICU, could significantly improve the full breast milk feeding rate of hospitalized late preterm infants.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

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