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Review
. 2024 Nov 9;50(1):240.
doi: 10.1186/s13052-024-01816-5.

Tele-support in breastfeeding: position statement of the Italian society of Neonatology

Riccardo Davanzo  1 , Maria Enrica Bettinelli  2 , Mariella Baldassarre  3 , Isabella Mondello  4 , Antonella Soldi  5 , Silvia Perugi  6 , Maria Lorella Giannì  7   8 , Lorenzo Colombo  7 , Guglielmo Salvatori  9 , Laura Travan  10   11 , Giuseppe Giordano  12 ; Breastfeeding Section of the Italian Society of Neonatology
Affiliations
Review

Tele-support in breastfeeding: position statement of the Italian society of Neonatology

Riccardo Davanzo et al. Ital J Pediatr. .

Abstract

Tele-support in breastfeeding can be defined as any support provided by a service that connects health workers and/or lactation consultants with breastfeeding parents through video visits, although a telephone contact with the breastfeeding mother remains the first method of remote breastfeeding support. The tele-support in breastfeeding has increased significantly during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic worldwide and, given its effectiveness, may be maintained also after the pandemic. The Italian Society of Neonatology on the basis of: 1) two focus group studies on the tele-support in breastfeeding conducted in Italy with 11 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurses and 10 neonatologists, respectively, 2) a national survey on tele-support in breastfeeding addressing the Italian Neonatal Intensive Care Units, and 3) a review of the available experiences and literature, has provided a Position Statement, limitedly to the individual tele-support in breastfeeding. The Italian Society of Neonatology states that: 1) the tele-support in breastfeeding can be used when a consultation in person is not shortly available and may allow to select those situations that require an in-person visit; 2) the organization of a tele-support in breastfeeding session requires the use of a competent, dedicated healthcare staff (specifically trained and/or with adequate experience) and an appropriate methodology while preparing, running and concluding the support session. According to Italian Society of Neonatology the tele-support in breastfeeding may be an effective intervention to promote breastfeeding as a complementary method to the in-person assistance and should be possibly provided in an integrated manner by the Community Health Services and the Maternity Hospital.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; Focus group; Maternity Hospitals; Position statement; Survey; Tele-support.

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Conflict of interest statement

All Authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Operative flow chart proposed by the Italian Society of Neonatology for the tele-support in breastfeeding. Following a telephone request of help by the mother, a video-consultation may be provided. In person consultation might follow an ineffective or inadequate video-consultation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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