Did you know late-preterm infants — born between 34 and 37 weeks gestational age — have higher morbidity and mortality rates than term infants (born after 37 weeks gestation)?
Though they are often the same size and weight as term infants, they have physiologic and metabolic immaturity affecting their ability to thrive. Late-preterm infants have higher rates of hospital readmission during the neonatal period than do term infants. They also face significant developmental challenges which may impede chest/breastfeeding success. 
Breastfeeding Support Strategies for Late-Preterm Infants, held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on July 26, is an online training designed to help you facilitate lactation initiation and human milk feeding for this special population. This educational opportunity is part of the California Hospital Breastfeeding Support: Key Concepts Webinar Series,* hosted by the California Breastfeeding Coalition and co-sponsored by the WIC Regional Breastfeeding Liaison Program of Alameda County and California WIC Association.
This training event will be presented by Sandra Cole, RN, IBCLC. Sandra is the author of Breastfeeding Challenges Made Easy for Late-Preterm Infants and has spent more than 30 years supporting breastfeeding success for these infants.
In this webinar, Sandra will provide clear, simple, evidence-based solutions and effective feeding techniques lactation consultants, nurses and other clinical care providers can use to support late-preterm infant feeding. Attendees will leave with the ability to:
- Recognize the late-preterm infant gestational age and general characteristics.
- Know the organ most responsible for difficulties with late preterm chest/breastfeeding.
- Identify feeding tools that can help late-preterm infants overcome chest/breastfeeding difficulties and be able to state how these tools increase chest/breastfeeding success.
- Describe the milestones late-preterm infants need to reach to be able to exclusively chest/breastfeed.
Continuing education units are available to eligible attendees through the California WIC Association. View/download the event flyer here. You can register here.
For information, contact Jeanne Kettles at Jeanne.Kettles@acgov.org or call 510-393-9632.
*California Hospital Breastfeeding Support: Key Concepts Webinar Series is for California Perinatal Hospitals implementing change related to California Health & Safety Code 123367. Each session offers expert information, showcases successful hospital practices, and facilitates shared learning and state-of-the-art resources. Though everyone with an interest in the topic is welcome, hospital-based lactation consultants, NICU nurses, obstetrical nurses, nurse midwives, and physicians should definitely attend to support their employer’s compliance with the code by Jan. 1, 2025.