Introduction
Infant nutrition can be one of the most emotive issues when a new baby arrives; not least because feeding is essential to survival but also because of the wealth of often conflicting advice provided to new and expectant mothers. For many mothers, feeding their baby is a natural and enjoyable experience, but for others, and particularly where the child shows signs of failing to thrive, it can be a constant source of anxiety. The pharmacy is often the first port of call for new parents seeking advice and reassurance on their child's health and wellbeing and providing clear, quality advice is essential.
Historically, feeding problems would be identified and addressed through contact with the GP and midwife, or via the Health Visitor. However, with increasing pressure on these services and with recent developments in the field of specialist infant formulae, there is an increasing role for the pharmacy team to play in recognising symptoms, advising on possible solutions and referring onwards where necessary. This module will give you the knowledge and skills to perform this role with confidence and provide a positive experience to your customers and patients.
Under the Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations 2007, the use of specialist infant formulae can only be recommended by healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and technicians, where they are competent to do so. In many cases, diagnosis and treatment of infant feeding problems requires GP referral, with pharmacists providing advice and support at the point of dispensing. It is important that the wider pharmacy team has an understanding of the issues so that customers can be referred appropriately.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this module you will be able to:
- List some benefits of breastfeeding
- Understand recent advances in formula feeds
- Recognise signs and symptoms of common infant feeding problems
- Provide self-help advice on the management of infant feeding problems
- Advise on the use of specialist infant formulae
- Understand when to refer infants with feeding problems to other healthcare professionals