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The importance of LATCH score in promoting effective breastfeeding
MATĚJKOVÁ, Radka
The LATCH score is a breastfeeding mapping system that supports effective breastfeeding, and it is used to predict the duration of exclusive breastfeeding at six weeks after delivery. Assessments, which begin in the delivery room and continue until the mother and newborn are discharged, are essential. The LATCH system serves as a systematic collection of information about breastfeeding. The rating scale assigns 0, 1 or 2 points to five key areas of breastfeeding. Every letter of the LATCH acronym indicates an area of assessment. With the LATCH scoring system the pediatric nurse can assess maternal and newborn variables, and can easily define areas for intervention and prioritize nursing care at maternity hospital. Our first goal was to reveal the importance of the LATCH score in promoting effective breastfeeding. The second goal was to reveal in which areas of breastfeeding techniques mothers most often make mistakes. The third aim was to describe in which areas of LATCH mothers need more education. And the last goal was to find out what are the specifics of nursing care for mothers and newborns with a low LATCH score.The practical part of the bachelor's thesis was processed using the method of qualitative research using direct observation and the method of questioning through a semi-structured interview. The research group consisted of ten mothers who, during the research period, were hospitalized after delivery in the department for physiological newborns. Mothers were directly observed during breastfeeding on the day after delivery and upon discharge from the hospital. LATCH scores were evaluated during observation. For mothers with a low LATCH score on the first day after delivery, the interventions provided to the mothers were further qualitatively evaluated and their effectiveness verified by the LATCH value at discharge. These mothers were contacted again in sixth week of the child's age, and through a short interview we verified, whether the mothers were still breastfeeding, what problems they had and what was the reason for stopping breastfeeding. The obtained data were qualitatively analyzed with the ATLAS.ti program. Based on the research investigation and the obtained analyzed data, it follows that the LATCH score is important in promoting effective breastfeeding. Nowadays, more and more women want to breastfeed as long as possible. During the analysis of the obtained data, we established three categories. The first category deals with the evaluation of the LATCH score at the first feeding after birth, here it is captured what affects breastfeeding in the first hours after birth by the mother, the newborn and the child's nurse. In the second category, we deal with the most common problems during breastfeeding and their solution by a pediatric nurse. The most common obstacle was the mutual position of the mother and the newborn and the correct latching and sucking of the newborn. The psychological and physical comfort of the mother is also closely related to breastfeeding. Nursing staff, i.e. children's nurses, educate the mother more in LATCH areas, where points are removed, and their goal is for the newborn to leave the maternity ward fully breastfed and for the mother to know everything about breastfeeding in the home environment. The last category is the progress of breastfeeding after six weeks after giving birth. We are interested in whether the mothers are still fully breastfeeding and whether they have had any complications.The results show that the LATCH score is a quick and simple tool for assessing breastfeeding after delivery, during hospitalization and before discharge. This breastfeeding assessment method serves pediatric nurses to effectively evaluate mother and newborn variables, define areas where intervention is needed and determine priorities in the provision of nursing care for the mother and newborn. The results of the research investigation can be used to improve the quality of nursing care...
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