IMPROVING SCREENING FOR BREASTFEEDING DIFFICULTY AND ASSESSMENT OF LABIAL AND LINGUAL FRENULUM-TIES IN BREASTFEEDING INFANTS DURING THE PEDIATRIC VISIT
Author
D'Alonzo, Caitlin
Abstract
The correlation between breastfeeding difficulty and labial (lip) and lingual (tongue)-tie has recently been a controversial topic with focus on treatment concerns. The focus should be redirected to standardized identification of breastfeeding difficulty and assessment for frenulum tethers as a cause for infants during pediatric office visits. In order to meet American Academy of Pediatrics and U.S. Preventative Task Force recommendations to exclusively breastfeed infants up to at least 6 months of age, a project was designed to encourage standardized inquiry and education about breastfeeding and potential tongue/lip-tie during the highly influential outpatient pediatric visit (AAP, 2015; U.S. Preventative Task Force, 2016). This project introduces clinical guidelines comprised of breastfeeding difficulty screening questions, lingual/labial frenulum assessment tools, and treatment recommendations for use by providers in a private pediatric clinic. Methods for educating and implementing new guidelines with practitioners included educational sessions with visual and descriptive tools, and interdisciplinary instruction with Lactation Consultants and Otorhinolaryngologists (ENT). Participants included private and government-funded paying families with breastfed infants in an urban pediatric clinic over the course of 3 months. Data analysis was collected during weekly medical record audits. There were a total of 109 breastfeeding infants screened or examined for frenulum tie. There was an increase in breastfeeding difficulty screening. In conclusion, after evaluation it was determined that dissemination of current literature regarding how best to screen for breastfeeding difficulty and, in response, recognize, assess, and repair tongue and lip-tie in infants experiencing breastfeeding difficulties increases standardization and consistency of screening as well as awareness of tongue/lip-tie as a contributor to breastfeeding difficulty.
Date
2019-05-03
Citation:
APA:
D'Alonzo, Caitlin.
(May 2019).
IMPROVING SCREENING FOR BREASTFEEDING DIFFICULTY AND ASSESSMENT OF LABIAL AND LINGUAL FRENULUM-TIES IN BREASTFEEDING INFANTS DURING THE PEDIATRIC VISIT
(DNP Scholarly Project, East Carolina University). Retrieved from the Scholarship.
(http://hdl.handle.net/10342/7172.)
MLA:
D'Alonzo, Caitlin.
IMPROVING SCREENING FOR BREASTFEEDING DIFFICULTY AND ASSESSMENT OF LABIAL AND LINGUAL FRENULUM-TIES IN BREASTFEEDING INFANTS DURING THE PEDIATRIC VISIT.
DNP Scholarly Project. East Carolina University,
May 2019. The Scholarship.
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/7172.
September 30, 2023.
Chicago:
D'Alonzo, Caitlin,
“IMPROVING SCREENING FOR BREASTFEEDING DIFFICULTY AND ASSESSMENT OF LABIAL AND LINGUAL FRENULUM-TIES IN BREASTFEEDING INFANTS DURING THE PEDIATRIC VISIT”
(DNP Scholarly Project., East Carolina University,
May 2019).
AMA:
D'Alonzo, Caitlin.
IMPROVING SCREENING FOR BREASTFEEDING DIFFICULTY AND ASSESSMENT OF LABIAL AND LINGUAL FRENULUM-TIES IN BREASTFEEDING INFANTS DURING THE PEDIATRIC VISIT
[DNP Scholarly Project]. Greenville, NC: East Carolina University;
May 2019.
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Breastfeeding Education for Obstetric Providers in a Rural Public Health Department
Spytkowski, Amanda (2020-05-05)Breastfeeding has many known positive benefits for both mother and baby. Prenatal breastfeeding education has been proven beneficial to expectant mothers; however, there is no known current data recommending how often and ... -
Breastfeeding Support Group
Laughlin, Amanda (2022-07-15)Breastfeeding provides numerous health benefits to women and their infants. Even with knowledge of the protective benefits of breast milk, there continues to be early breastfeeding discontinuation. The state and national ... -
Staff Education and Mothers' Postpartum Feeding Choices in a North Carolina Health Department
Guevara, BethAnn (2017-04-19)Maternal and pediatric benefits of breastfeeding are extensive, yet national benchmarks for postpartum breastfeeding initiation consistently go unmet nationwide. Evidence suggests that educating healthcare professionals ...