The International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) has been closely following recent media coverage of neonatal hypernatremia and the role of skilled lactation care providers. We express our deep sympathies to the family impacted in these stories.
ILCA affirms the important role that International Board Certified Lactation Consultants® (IBCLC®s) play as a part of the healthcare team. For those seeking resources on the issues raised, we are sharing the following resources.
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine – Of Goldilocks and Neonatal Hypernatremia
UNICEF UK – Hypernatremic Dehydration: Response to News Coverage
Baby-Friendly USA – Individualized Care in the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine – Clinical Protocol #3: Hospital Guidelines for the Use of Supplementary Feedings in the Healthy Term Breastfed Neonate, Revised 2017
International Lactation Consultant Association – Position Paper on the Role and Impact of the IBCLC
We will continue to update this list as additional resources are developed. Do you have a resource you would like to suggest? Please share it with us in the comments.
The ILCA obviously accepts no responsibility for the potentially harmful, and in some cases, deadly, advice that it’s IBCLCs give to new mothers, but failing to use this opportunity to provide mothers with truthful information about the warning signs of dehydration in a newborn and all the things that can contribute to low supply is unforgivable. Your organization is doing nothing to try to prevent more cases of hypernatremia from happening. Shame on you.
Many years ago I worked for a hospital system that discharged moms in 24-36 hours after delivery, However the dyad was seen in the next 24 hours and again in 48 hours for assessment of both mother and baby. The system seemed to work well to me as a provider of the home care. I really feel that we do parents a great dis-service sending them home without specific follow-up. AAP says they must be seen 48-72 hours post discharge, but many pediatrics practices still say -see you in 2 weeks. Whose responsibility is it?? The parents, hospital, doctors??? I like the system I did 25 years ago, I wish it was universal. Pat in SNJ
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