Recorded webinar (21 Feb 2024): Breastfeeding in paediatric settings

This webinar was held on 21 February 2024 and was recorded

In this second of our guest webinar series, we will be learning about what we can do to improve the breastfeeding support for mothers and babies/children in paediatric wards.

Breastfeeding may be particularly important for infants and children who are sick or medically complex, but research that applies to this specific population is limited, dated and often disease-specific. At the same time, training, clinical skills and creative adaptations to overcome feeding obstacles are not universal among health or lactation professionals and the strategies that work for preterm infants or healthy newborns are not always appropriate or effective for sick older children.

It can therefore be hard for parents to persevere through the challenges associated with illness and paediatric hospital admission. This presentation will introduce some of the challenges and barriers faced by families, and through the latest research and parent stories, suggest a family-centred approach to supporting medically complex children to continue to breastfeed in the paediatric setting.

A recent study provides new data into the specific challenges encountered by parents of children with acute, chronic, complex and life-threatening illness in the paediatric ward or paediatric intensive care unit. Another study found many gaps in knowledge among paediatric health care professionals as well as problems with ward culture.

In this presentation, learners will understand why the paediatric population is distinct from the maternity and neonatal population and appreciate some of the unique difficulties that these families face. Learners will also develop understanding of the need to merge clinical and lactation skills in a collaborative approach to care. Finally, new insights and awareness of the importance of expanding current training to meet the needs of this population will be shared.

This is the second in a series of guest webinars that Better Breastfeeding is hosting to support the development of local breastfeeding and infant feeding strategies.

Who this webinar is for

• paediatricians, paediatric nurses and other professionals who care for medically complex children
• hospital-based infant feeding leads
• LMNS leads and LA commissioners developing system-wide breastfeeding strategies
• lactation consultants and breastfeeding counsellors
• anyone with an interest in supporting breastfeeding for medically complex children

Presenter

Lyndsey Hookway

PhD RNC SCPHN (HV) IBCLC

Dr Lyndsey Hookway is an experienced paediatric nurse, children’s public health nurse, IBCLC, researcher, responsive sleep/parenting advocate, and the author of 6 books. She has worked with children and families for more than 20 years within in-patient paediatrics, paediatric ambulatory care, NICU, and the community.

Lyndsey is a researcher at Swansea University, exploring the needs and challenges of medically complex breastfed infants and children. In 2019 she founded the Breastfeeding the Brave project to raise awareness of the unique lactation needs of sick children in the paediatric setting. Lyndsey is the co-founder and clinical director of the Holistic Sleep Coaching program and Thought Rebellion. She is a respected international speaker and also provides regular training, advocacy and consultancy to both NHS and private organisations.

Instagram: @lyndsey_hookway

Facebook: @LyndseyHookway

X: @FeedSleepBond

www.lyndseyhookway.com

https://www.facebook.com/thethoughtrebellion/

www.holisticsleepcoaching.com

http://www.breastfeedingthebrave.com