Recently, the CDC released the state Maternal Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) scores. Oklahoma received a total score of 78/100, ranking 28th overall.

Download the full report here.

Room for Improvement

The following are seven of Oklahoma’s lowest practice scores, along with some resources to help us get better:

1. Infant procedures, assessment, and care are in the patient room: 22%

2. Staff provide appropriate discharge planning: 23%

3. Supplemental feedings to breastfeeding infants are rare: 23%

4. Facility does not receive infant formula free of charge: 26%

5. Breastfeeding policy includes all 10 model policy elements: 31%

• Model policy elements are: 1) in-service training, 2) prenatal breastfeeding classes, 3) asking about mothers’ feeding plans, 4) initiating breastfeeding within one hour of uncomplicated vaginal birth, 5) initiating breastfeeding after recovery for uncomplicated c-sections and/or showing mothers how to express milk and maintain lactation if separated from infant, 6) giving only breast milk to breastfed infants, 7) rooming-in 24 hr/day, 8) breastfeeding on demand, 9) no pacifier use by breastfed infants, 10) referral of mothers with breastfeeding problems and/or referral of mothers to appropriate breastfeeding resources at discharge.
• View a sample hospital policy.

6. New staff receive appropriate breastfeeding education: 32%

• Multiple, FREE education opportunities are available through the Oklahoma Breastfeeding Resource Center. Visit ouhsc.edu/breastfeeding/training.aspx for more information.
• New staff can also receive training at the Oklahoma Perinatal Nurses Forum’s Perinatal Nursing Bootcamp. The bootcamp is held twice a year. One of the six days is devoted to breastfeeding.

7. Routine procedures are performed skin-to-skin: 33%

Reference: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oklahoma 2015 Report, CDC Survey of Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care. Atlanta, GA. September 2016