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NMH | 2024 79 Maternity & Obstetrics providing a vital part of the support system for new mothers up to 6 weeks postpartum. In 2024, 1,221 women attended this clinic. Offering this support in the early weeks after birth helps mothers navigate any challenges they may face with breastfeeding, including issues like latching, milk supply, or nipple pain. This kind of continued care can make all the difference in encouraging successful breastfeeding and promoting maternal confidence. It is especially valuable that the clinic focuses on both the mother and the baby, addressing their needs as a pair and offering tailored advice based on each individual situation. The postnatal period can be overwhelming, so having a reliable resource to turn to for support in those early weeks can be incredibly reassuring for new parents. It is very interesting to note while nipple pain can be caused by poor latching of the baby, a clinical diagnosis of both bacteria or fungal infections Staphylococcus Aureus (12) Candidiasis (4) Group B strep (3) Group A strep (1) and E.Coli (1) have been identified through analysing some expressed breast milk in the laboratory. Prompt treatment can be arranged for the mother through our Consultant Microbiologist Dr Susan Knowles and our Infection Control Assistant Director of Midwifery/Nursing Shideh Kiafar and a team member who is a midwife prescriber. National Standards for Infant Feeding in Maternity Services In 2024, NWHIP requested that the service complete a self-assessment of the National Standards for Infant Feeding in Maternity Services utilising the HIQA Quality Improvement Framework. The aim of the self-assessment tools are to support each of the 19 Maternity Hospitals/Units to: 1. Appraise their practices against the requirements of the National Standards for Infant Feeding in Maternity Services (2022). 2. Review their systems and procedures to support breastfeeding and other methods of infant feeding 3. Benchmark their progress to monitor future progress. The process involved in depth interviews with service users and service providers. The outcomes were measured against levels of compliance known as 'Judgement Descriptors' (JDs) and these were used to assess each Maternity Hospital/Service performance against each of the eight HIQA themes. It must be commended that The National Maternity Hospital demonstrated meeting the standard in almost all 8 themes showing that we are working towards meeting the remaining standards. Action plans have been developed in order to reach the target of meeting the standard in all 8 themes. One of these actions is the roll out of the new national programme for staff learning about the basic skills of breastfeeding. This new programme sees a collaborative approach between acute and community settings. Merging breastfeeding education for NMH staff alongside our CHO 6, Public Health Nurses. Our breastfeeding support team have undertaken extra training in order to facilitate teaching these courses and are commencing same in 2025. It is especially valuable that the clinic focuses on both the mother and the baby, addressing their needs as a pair and offering tailored advice based on each individual situation." Supplementation Policy The team introduced a new supplementation policy in 2024 which is a significant step forward in promoting and supporting breastfeeding with the aim of reducing formula supplementation especially for non- clinical reasons. Focusing on providing expressed breastmilk through the use of safe soft syringes instead, the team is empowering mothers to feed their babies with their own milk, which offers optimal nutrition and strengthens the breastfeeding bond. Collaborating with Neonatology Clinical Director Dr Deirdre Sweetman on this policy, ensures that it's grounded in both expert medical advice and a compassionate understanding of mothers' needs. The use of safe soft syringes for expressing milk is a great solution for mothers who may face challenges with direct breastfeeding, as it ensures babies still receive their mother's milk in a safe and controlled manner. Coupled with the antenatal colostrum harvesting education, written materials, and visual resources, this policy offers a comprehensive approach to ensure that mothers are well-prepared for their breastfeeding journey. Aligning these collective actions with the National Standards provides safe care and support to women and babies attending The National Maternity Hospital. Breastfeeding Midwives.