At the close of each session of the North Carolina Lactation Educator Training Program (NCLETP), the learners are challenged to go out and make a difference in their community using the lactation knowledge they acquired over the seven days of the course.

A couple of years ago, a team (two speech-language pathologists and a registered dietitian) from the Children’s Developmental Services Agency (CDSA) of Western North Carolina attended the NCLETP. Their goal when registering for the training was to enhance lactation support for their clients who live in rural areas with limited access to lactation support resources. During the didactic days, they kept exploring and brainstorming ways they could put their newfound lactation knowledge into practice. As a result of their excitement and motivation, an infant feeding team was born. The plan was for the speech-language pathologist and the nutritionist to provide co-visits focused on infant feeding concerns. Previously, visits had been made by a team member with a referral to another team member when concerns arose during the visit.

As a result of the pandemic, the team pivoted and started providing virtual co-visits. Providing the care virtually has increased their capacity to provide infant feeding focused co-visits for the family. Their observation has been that what one team member does not remember the other team member does remember -which leads to higher quality care. And this dialog occurs while the patient is present without needing a follow-up call to relay more information.

As they start to return to face-to-face visits with the families, their goal is to be able to continue to provide this same level of lactation care and support. The team shared that the families have benefitted from the feeding team concept and the extra support they received for breastfeeding. “Better together” definitely applies to this approach for providing lactation support in the rural areas of Western North Carolina.

Check out these Upcoming Programs:

• After Discharge: Maternal and Infant Assessment in the Home: Live Webinar August 25, 2021 8:45 AM - 2:30 PM. This live webinar activity will increase the ability of the provider to perform a home visit for a new postpartum family. Emphasis will be placed on telehealth and virtual assessments. Click here for more information
  
  
• 2021 North Carolina Lactation Educator Training Program - Fall: This event will be live webinar on the following dates: Sept 1 & 2, Oct 6 & 7, and Dec 6 & 7. This course focuses on skills needed for providing basic breastfeeding management and support - including prenatal and postpartum counseling and management of common concerns and clinical problems. The training includes five days of didactic instruction, two days of clinical rotations in hospital and public health settings, and an independent study assignment. Click here for more information
  
  
• S.T.A.B.L.E. / What To Do After Neonatal Resuscitation: Live Webinar September 14, 2021 8:30AM - 4:00PM. STABLE is a nationally recognized program involving care of the neonate beyond resuscitation. S.T.A.B.L.E. stands for the six assessment and care modules in the program: Sugar, Temperature, Airway, Blood pressure, Lab work, and Emotional. Click here for more information
  
  
• Basic Fetal Monitoring ~ Fall 2021:  Live Webinar November 4, 2021 9:00AM-3:00PM. To introduce basic fetal monitoring principles to the new perinatal nurse. Click here for more information
  
  
• 39th Annual Perinatal Conference Gravidas at Risk: Live Webinar November 16-17, 2021. Gravidas at Risk is an annual 2-day statewide perinatal conference designed to address both inpatient and outpatient care. Click here for more information
  
  

Testimonial provided by: Georganna Cogburn, MSHE, RD, LDN, IBCLC, RLC, Region 1 Lactation Trainer, Continuing Professional Development