Results of the realization of the breastfeeding support project. Experience of the unit of the pathology of the neonate and premature babies of the Tambov regional pediatric clinical hospital
Research of the past decades has confirmed the significance of human breast milk and breastfeeding for decreasing morbidity and mortality among the premature and sick neonate, and also for their further growth and development. Performance of the work to maintain and support breastfeeding in pediatric hospital often might not be possible because of the absence of conditions for the joint stay of mother and child. In many cases, a baby is transferred from a maternity hospital to a pediatric hospital without his or her mother. The article describes an experience of introducing modern technologies for maintenance and support of breastfeeding in the unit of the pathology of the neonate and premature babies of the Tambov regional pediatric clinical hospital. During the introduction period of the Russian-American project «Improving care for mothers and babies» (USAID) in the Tambov region from 2009 to 2011 the level of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding at admission to and discharge from hospital increased both among the full-term and the premature neonate.