A NURSE from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has achieved the highest breastfeeding support qualifications available, meaning new parents will receive the best support.
Becky Davenport, an Infant Feeding Specialist Midwife has qualified as a Lactation Consultant – she passed the international board of certified lactation consultant examiners.
Lactation Consultants have specialist skills to support mothers and babies with the more complex issues such as prematurity, twins and multiples, sick babies and those with special needs, poor weight gain and low milk supply, sucking problems, tongue-tie and cleft palate.
Becky said: “I am delighted to have passed the course – it was a tough 12 months and a difficult exam but I am thrilled that after 26 years as a midwife and 12 years as a feeding specialist I now have an even deeper understanding of lactation and feeding.
“It proves that you never stop learning.
“We are tending to see more complex feeding concerns and I hope this offers even more assurance to new parents that they have expert feeding advice and problem solving available to them if they need it.
“We are looking forward to enhancing the skills of two further members of the team and our eventual aim is to be able to set up a dedicated complex feeding clinic at the Trust.”
Justine Jeffery, director of midwifery at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said:
“I would like to congratulate Becky on a wonderful achievement – this is the highest qualification you can gain in breastfeeding support and shows our commitment to infant feeding.
“It’s great news both for the Trust and most importantly for our new parents and families.”
The Trust’s infant feeding service supports new parents with feeding concerns up to six weeks after birth.
Visit www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/maternity-services for more information.
