Providing effective lactation care: The Merton NHS Specialist Breastfeeding Clinic

Abstract

The aim of this review was to assess the impact of an NHS specialist breastfeeding clinic staffed by International Board Certified Lactation Consultants, and to identify whether it improves breastfeeding outcomes and duration. This retrospective clinical review evaluated data from consultations at the Merton Specialist Breastfeeding Clinic. The data from each consultation forms the basis of the analysis. In the majority of cases (76%; n=56), the clinician findings differed from the mother's presenting concerns. This highlights the importance of specialist care to correctly identify issues and underlying causes. The majority (83%) of infants in this cohort were receiving some mother's own milk beyond 6 months. Women who faced complex breastfeeding challenges reached their breastfeeding goals with the support of specialist lactation care.