Pictured L-R Redcliffe Hospital Fundraising Manager Sharyn Tidswell, Research Co-Lead Terri Curcio, mother Kritiva Nepal. father Ayush Pudasaini with baby Aariv Pudasaini and Research Co-Lead Kat Ross.
Thanks to the extraordinary power of giving, Redcliffe Hospital midwives are partnering with maternity patients to increase exclusive breastfeeding rates at the hospital.
The Breastfeeding Project, co-funded through last year’s Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital Giving Day, has been featured during World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August).
Project co-leads Terri Curcio and Kat Ross, who are midwives and lactation consultants, said the exclusive breastfeeding rates on discharge at Redcliffe Hospital were lower compared to other public maternity facilities across Queensland.
“The goal for all maternity facilities is to achieve and maintain at least a 75% exclusive breastfeeding or breastmilk-feeding rate at discharge,” said Ms Curcio.
“The project aim is to explore the experiences of women who are birthing at Redcliffe Hospital and wish to breastfeed, with a particular focus on how antenatal and in hospital care may influence breastfeeding capacity after birth.”
The countdown is now on to this year’s Raise it for Redcliffe Giving Day, Thursday 29 August, a partnership between the RBWH Foundation and Redcliffe Hospital. Funds raised support research, like this, as well as patient care projects and other hospital initiatives that fall outside the scope of government funding.
Every donation received by Giving Day will be doubled by Giving Day Impact Partners, for twice the impact.
Donate online at www.raiseitforredcliffe.com.au
“More than $800,000 has been raised by the community since Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital was launched in 2020,” said RBWH Foundation CEO Simone Garske.
“This year Giving Day hopes to surpass $1 million to make even greater community impact.”
The Breastfeeding Project is partnering with Consumer Co-lead representative, Sue Chapman, through the Redcliffe Hospital Co-Design Research Internship Program (CRISP).
Sue Chapman was a Registered Nurse for 24 years, working in Adult and Paediatric services. Now a grandmother, Sue said watching her daughter’s experience after the birth of her grandson, prompted her involvement as a consumer.
“Witnessing what I would call a maze, that had so many confusing and conflicting ways to go, was not something I would wish upon anyone,” said Sue.
“When this opportunity came available, I knew I could give something to the community and the hospital.
“To try and create change in regard to breastfeeding and what is available to mums is something I’ve become very passionate about.”
The project will explore the experiences of women who are birthing at Redcliffe Hospital and wish to breastfeed, with a particular focus on how antenatal and in hospital care may influence breastfeeding capacity after birth.
The project will also identify health care practices, interventions and strategies from the women’s perspective that may help improve and support exclusive breastfeeding. Participants have been recruited from 38-39 weeks pregnant and these women will be interviewed between 4-6 weeks postpartum to gather valuable insight into their lived experience around breastfeeding.
“The findings will help identify areas that need improvement and will assist in the development of strategies to improve the breastfeeding journey for women at Redcliffe Hospital,” said Ms Curcio.
The research team pay tribute to the Moreton Bay community for its support of Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital Giving Day.
“The clinicians involved in this project would have been unable to participate without the support of Raise It for Redcliffe.”
To get involved in Raise it for Redcliffe Hospital, visit www.raiseitforredcliffe.com.au
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