New guidance on developing hypoglycaemia policies
The Baby Friendly Initiative has today published a new guidance document for maternity units who are developing or amending polices which relate to the prevention and treatment of hypoglycaemia in newborns.
Most maternity units working towards Baby Friendly accreditation have found that it is necessary to address the issue of supplementation for breastfed babies at risk of hypoglycaemia. The challenge of developing clear and unambiguous guidelines which ensure the safety of infants at risk of hypoglycaemia whilst at the same time, avoid the unnecessary use of supplements has proven to be very difficult in many units.
This guidance document has been developed with those units in mind and includes a checklist to ensure the inclusion of all the key aspects of care, together with referenced background information and a sample flow chart.
