Telehealth Breastfeeding: Best Practice Guideline

Background: Only 24.9% of United Stated infants are exclusively breastfed through six months. Healthy People 2020 breastfeeding goals include increasing the proportion of infant breastfed through six months to 60.6%. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action identified increasing access to International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants as a priority to improve breastfeeding percentages. Purpose: Implementation of an evidence-based telehealth breastfeeding guideline, will provide mothers with consistent education regarding breastfeeding practices and guidance to overcome common obstacles, which will then result in increased confidence levels regarding breastfeeding and increase breastfeeding durations. Study and Design: The Iowa model was utilized to guide this project. A literature review of PUBMED and Cochrane databases, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics and international lactation consultant association was performed. Articles included recommendations regarding breastfeeding hurdles, education, promotion and telehealth. Methods: The evidence-based research was integrated into a guideline, which was then evaluated by the AGREE II instrument. Results: The AGREE II instrument resulted as followed; Scope and Purpose 95.80%, Stakeholder Involvement 98.60%, Rigor of Development 82.80%, Clarity of Presentation 100%, Applicability 79.20%, Editorial Independence 89.60%, Overall Quality 95.80% and Recommendation for use 100%