Tele-support in breastfeeding: position statement of the Italian society of Neonatology.

Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101510759 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1824-7288 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 17208424 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Ital J Pediatr Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: London : BioMed Central

Breast Feeding* ; Telemedicine* ; COVID-19*/prevention & control ; COVID-19*/epidemiology; Humans ; Italy ; Infant, Newborn ; Neonatology ; Female ; Societies, Medical ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal

Tele-support in breastfeeding can be defined as any support provided by a service that connects health workers and/or lactation consultants with breastfeeding parents through video visits, although a telephone contact with the breastfeeding mother remains the first method of remote breastfeeding support. The tele-support in breastfeeding has increased significantly during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic worldwide and, given its effectiveness, may be maintained also after the pandemic. The Italian Society of Neonatology on the basis of: 1) two focus group studies on the tele-support in breastfeeding conducted in Italy with 11 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurses and 10 neonatologists, respectively, 2) a national survey on tele-support in breastfeeding addressing the Italian Neonatal Intensive Care Units, and 3) a review of the available experiences and literature, has provided a Position Statement, limitedly to the individual tele-support in breastfeeding. The Italian Society of Neonatology states that: 1) the tele-support in breastfeeding can be used when a consultation in person is not shortly available and may allow to select those situations that require an in-person visit; 2) the organization of a tele-support in breastfeeding session requires the use of a competent, dedicated healthcare staff (specifically trained and/or with adequate experience) and an appropriate methodology while preparing, running and concluding the support session. According to Italian Society of Neonatology the tele-support in breastfeeding may be an effective intervention to promote breastfeeding as a complementary method to the in-person assistance and should be possibly provided in an integrated manner by the Community Health Services and the Maternity Hospital.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)

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Keywords: Breastfeeding; Focus group; Maternity Hospitals; Position statement; Survey; Tele-support

Date Created: 20241108 Date Completed: 20241109 Latest Revision: 20241116

20250114

PMC11549854

10.1186/s13052-024-01816-5

39516812