Creating a Kangaroo Care and Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital Environment with Barbara Morrison

Revisioning the Postpartum stay--am session
Mothers and their newborns have 36-48 hours after birth to learn about each other and to practice breastfeeding with the support of nursing staff and lactation experts. However, the environment on most postpartum units is not conducive to these activities. Consideration will be given to the philosophy of “Family Centered Care” and current postpartum environmental conditions in preparation to discover how to become part of the scaffolding supporting and educating new families. Using the “language of the newborn” will be presented as a way for creating opportunities for teaching and supporting new families.
Changing Paradigms for newborn care and breastfeeding--pm session
Evidence from multiple disciplines suggests we are not recognizing the innate abilities and the physiological adaptations of mother and newborn with the care we currently provide immediately after birth. Evidence for Kangaroo Care as a newborn’s natural habitat will be presented. Additionally, innate capabilities of the newborn and mother for breastfeeding, maintaining physiologic stability and mutual care-giving will be discussed. Plan will be started for safe implementation of the new practices.