Sunnybrook awarded grant for peer-to-peer breastfeeding support
Sunnybrook’s strong commitment to ensuring that every patient receives the support that they need to initiate and continue exclusively breastfeeding has received a boost from funds provided by the Government of Ontario and the support of the Best Start Resource Centre at Health Nexus. Sunnybrook was awarded approximately $25,000 to establish a peer breastfeeding counselor role in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Breast milk contains important antibodies that help fight disease and prevent infection, a benefit critical to vulnerable preterm infants. Breast milk also plays an important role in preventing problems specific to babies in the NICU, such as necrotizing enterocolitis, a serious intestinal infection.
“In Sunnybrook’s NICU, breast milk represents so much more than just food,” says Dr. Jo Watson, nurse practitioner, lead for the grant project and Operations Director for the DAN Women & Babies Program. “Breast milk promotes healing, growth and development within the newborn that will last a lifetime. Any steps that we can take to encourage and sustain exclusive breastfeeding are crucial for preterm infants.”
“Breast milk promotes healing, growth and development within the newborn that will last a lifetime"
The grant has allowed the hospital to recruit two NICU graduate mothers, Irma Jules and Ophelia Kwakye to act as peer breastfeeding counselors to enhance support for populations with lower breastfeeding rates. Every week, the peer counselors coordinate a weekly lunch meeting for NICU mothers, to share experiences and learn about the importance of breast milk for their baby.
The counselors also liaise with women who have pregnancy complications in Sunnybrook’s High Risk Obstetrical Unit, providing information about the importance of breast milk, early hand expression and kangaroo care. Due to this early contact, the counselors can support mothers who may experience challenges feeding their babies breast milk.
“NICU mothers feel supported by the peer breastfeeding counselors,” says Dr. Watson. “Having a role that is perceived as less medical, and peer based, has provided another avenue of support for our families.”
The funds will allow the role to continue until December 2015. Next steps involve evaluation of the role, including determining rates of breastfeeding initiation and exclusivity at the time of discharge from the NICU.
