Mothers’ own milk (MOM) is a vital nutritional and developmental element of every child’s first 1,000 days. For preterm and very low birthweight infants in intensive care, MOM feeding can be a lifesaving intervention. It supports healthy organ and system development, and helps reduce the risk of serious complications such as infections and necrotising enterocolitis that these vulnerable infants often face. The benefits of MOM also extend into adulthood, and have been linked to lifelong protections against chronic illnesses like allergies, diabetes and heart disease. To help healthcare professionals bring lifesaving MOM to infants in intensive care worldwide, Rush University Medical Center, with support from the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation, produced PROVIDE – A Training Compendium on Providing Mothers’ Own Milk in NICU Settings.

While there is a substantial body of research showing that a mother’s own milk is the most effective option for greatly improving the health of hospitalised, very low birthweight infants, what was missing was the ‘how to’ take the evidence into effective clinical practices, protocols, information sheets and other strategies to actually increase the use of MOM in this specialised environment.

--- PAULA P. MEIER, PHD, RN, PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS AND NURSING AT RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

Dr Paula P. Meier introduces the PROVIDE Training Compendium:

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Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: Is it Safe to Provide Milk for My NICU Baby if I Have or Have Been Exposed to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)? With so much news in the media about COVID-19, it is natural to be concerned about whether providing milk for your NICU baby is safe or even advisable.

For guidance, please read the COVID-19 information sheet created by Dr Paula P. Meier and her team for the PROVIDE Training Compendium. It is also offered in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Spanish and Urdu.

Project director: Paula P. Meier, PhD, RN, Professor of Pediatrics and Nursing, Rush University Medical Center
Project contributors: Aloka L. Patel, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Chief, Division of Neonatology, Rush University Medical Center; Judy E. Janes, RN, BSN, IBCLC, Research Specialist and Clinical Nurse 3, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Rush University Medical Center

Artwork information sheets: Kristen W. Marzejon, CMI
Producer and director videos: Ron Levinson

DISCLAIMER: PROVIDE – A Training Compendium on Providing Mothers’ Own Milk in NICU Settings is intended for use by health professionals in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). All parts of this package are primarily for training purposes and for additional information to be given to parents by NICU health professionals. The PROVIDE Training Compendium, provided by Rush University Medical Center, is not intended for use by parents or private persons without medical education and we do not raise any claim to completeness of the resources. Under no circumstances should they be regarded as a substitute for professional advice or treatment or for any independent medical judgment of a healthcare professional regarding specific patient diagnoses or treatment plans. Healthcare providers should exercise their own independent medical judgment, and decisions as to any diagnosis and treatment plans are the sole responsibility of such healthcare provider.

The content within The PROVIDE Training Compendium cannot and shall not be used to make independent diagnoses or begin treatment. The information is not personally related to you. For non-medical professionals we recommend that you visit recognised healthcare professionals to get specific advice for any medical problems.

PROVIDE – A Training Compendium on Providing Mothers’ Own Milk in NICU Settings was exclusively published on www.LactaHub.org on 4 August 2020.

The PROVIDE Training Compendium is provided in good faith. We will be happy to provide you with further information and guidance. We look forward to your inquiry at: contact@lactahub.org

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