The Primary Care midwives of the Lanzarote Health Area have launched "the Breastfeeding Telephone", a care program for families to resolve doubts and breastfeeding problems early and individually through a telephone consultation that could lead, if necessary, to an in-home service.
From the Health Department they explain that the main objective of the project is "to improve breastfeeding care, offer advice and support to families in an early and effective manner", as well as "to avoid early abandonment of breastfeeding due to problems and difficulties derived from it".
The group of midwives understands that the accompaniment and professional monitoring of the woman who breastfeeds her baby "favors the continuity and success of breastfeeding", which is why they have decided to launch this service, to continue advancing in the promotion of breastfeeding and improve the care circuit.
The program tries to respond to problems of a priority or urgent nature that may occur during the process. For this, they have made available to families the telephone number 618 798 980, which will be answered by a midwife from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 20:00 hours, either by message, call or video call. If necessary, she will go to the user's home for face-to-face care.
The telephone has been in operation since this week and, in addition to families, it is also expected to help professionals involved in care such as midwives, primary care physicians, nurses, pediatricians and gynecologists.
Commitment to breastfeeding
The Lanzarote Health Area has other breastfeeding support services such as "Breastfeeding Consultations" and "Breastfeeding Workshops" in health centers, in addition to emergency breastfeeding care at the Doctor José Molina Orosa University Hospital, at night and on weekends.
The new program also aims to reduce the use of emergency services for mastitis, breast engorgement or other problems, while contributing to the promotion and maintenance of breastfeeding from Primary Care. This is achieved by developing the 7 steps towards successful breastfeeding of the Initiative for the Humanization of Assistance to Birth and Breastfeeding (IHAN) launched by the World Health Organization and UNICEF to encourage hospitals and health services to adopt practices that protect, promote and support exclusive breastfeeding from birth.
Between January and May of this year, the Molina Orosa Hospital registered the birth of 395 boys and girls. It is estimated that 88 percent of families opt for breastfeeding, either exclusively or supplemented as a way to feed babies, while the remaining 12 percent choose formula milk.
