Breastfeeding assessment

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I am developing a policy for breastfeeding assessment on a postpartum unit. We are using the LATCH assessment. My question is does anyone work in a unit using the LATCH assessment and how often do you require nurses to document using the LATCH assessment? (ie once a shift, twice a shift, every feeding, etc?) Thanks

Hi- we started using the LATCH scale maybe 6 months ago. Nursing staff is to document LATCH scale by way of direct observation (not by merely asking mom how things went) once a shift, at minimum. We have one LC who works days and occasional weekends, and any documentation she does re: LATCH assessment is done in addition to the primary RN's assessment.

Hope this helps!

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

We use LATCH and are required to assess this at least once/shift or more often if problems exist.

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I'm intrigued; what is LATCH? I've not heard of it.

this is from Sally Olds "Maternal-Newborn Nursing and Women's Health Care"

LATCH is a tool for systematic assessment of breastfeeding and charting

L is for Latch 0=too sleepy or reluctant, no latch achieved, 1=repeated attempts, hold nipple in mouth, stimulate to suck, 2= grasps breast, tongue down, lips flanged, rhythmic sucking

A is for Audible swallowing 0=none, 1= a few with stimulation, 2= spontaneous and intermittent 24 hrs old

T is for Type of nipple 0= inverted, 1= flat, 2=everted (after stimulation)

C is for Comfort (breast/nipple) 0= engorged, cracked, bleeding, large blisters or bruises, severe discomfort, 1= filling, reddened/small blisters or bruises, mild/moderate discomfort, 2= soft nontender

H is for Hold (positioning) 0= full assist (staff holds infant at breast),

1= mminimal assist (ie elevate head of bed, place pillows for support), teach one side; mother does other, Staff holds and then mother takes over,

2=no assist from staff, mother able to position/hold infant

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Cool!

We use the same criteria, we just don't call it that & don't give it a number. I like it though.

Specializes in Nurse Manager, Labor and Delivery.

we document LATCH scoring with every feeding.

Specializes in OB, lactation.

We do LATCH assessment a minimum of q8hours (it's part of our assessments in our computer charting system). Actually, the screen for bf assessment includes a more detailed section in addition to the LATCH part.

Thanks for the information. Do you document on both the baby and mothers chart or one or the other?

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

we do it on the infant's chart.

Specializes in Postpartum, Lactation.

We document in the infant's chart and assess LATCH at least q shift but also any other time that a feeding is directly observed.

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