SPIN Offers Online Support for Parents of Preemies

For new moms who choose to breastfeed or pump, the challenge of producing enough breast milk can be a big one – but moms of preemies have even more added pressure when it comes to nursing their babies, and often require more support after they leave the hospital.

UC San Diego Health System has been helping new moms of preemies since 2008, with their unique SPIN (Supporting Premature Infant Nutrition) program. Now, the organization is taking their program to the Internet in the hopes of helping even more new moms produce milk for their premature babies.

The SPIN program is built on the many health benefits that have been linked to breast milk. According to SPIN’s lactation director Lisa Stellwagen, MD, these benefits include stronger brain growth and decreased rate of infection for babies, as well as reduced risk of diabetes, stroke and breast and ovarian cancer for new moms, just to name a few.

The program’s new website, spinprogram.ucsd.edu, contains information articles for new parents and NICU staff, as well as instructional and informational videos. It also includes an area for donations, which will be used to help purchase breast pumps and moby wraps (slings that allow preemies to be carried safely while still maintaining close contact) for parents with financial difficulties.

Over 100 families make use of the SPIN program each year, and the UC San Diego Health System has seen a 15 percent increase in the number of preemies who are fed breast milk after they leave the hospital since the program debuted.

Now, with its new online presence, the organization hopes to reach even more families and mothers of premature babies, helping to ease the stress of the nursing process and educate on the importance of breast milk.