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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Jul;15(3):e12779.
doi: 10.1111/mcn.12779. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Short-term efficacy of two breast pumps and impact on breastfeeding outcomes at 6 months in exclusively breastfeeding mothers: A randomised trial

Mary Fewtrell  1 , Kathy Kennedy  1 , Olga Lukoyanova  2 , Zhuang Wei  3 , Debra Potak  4 , Tatiana Borovik  2 , Leyla Namazova-Baranova  2 , Richard Schanler  4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Short-term efficacy of two breast pumps and impact on breastfeeding outcomes at 6 months in exclusively breastfeeding mothers: A randomised trial

Mary Fewtrell et al. Matern Child Nutr. 2019 Jul.

Abstract

The provision of breast pumps is a potential strategy to increase breastfeeding duration. This trial compared the effectiveness and acceptability of two breast pumps in mothers exclusively breastfeeding (EBF) their healthy term infant. It also tested whether provision of pumps versus vouchers of equivalent value influenced breastfeeding or attainment of mothers' goals at 3 and 6 months. Mothers were randomised at 3- to 4-week post-partum (Beijing [n = 30], Moscow [n = 34], London [n = 45], New York [n = 3]) to groups A (Philips single-electric pump, Natural bottle), B (Medela Swing single-electric pump, Calma bottle), or C (Control; vouchers). At 6 weeks, group A and B mothers expressed for 10 min/breast; milk weight and opinions of pump/bottle were recorded. Feeding practices were assessed using questionnaires at 3 and 6 months. Milk weight/flow pattern did not differ between groups. Pump A scored significantly better for ease-of-use, cushion-feel, need-to-lean-forward, pleasant, comfort. At 3 and 6 months, %EBF or meeting their goal was not significantly different; (3 months: 86%, 85%, 84%; 6 months: 20%, 15%, 26%; meeting goal 24%, 17%, 27% for A, B, and C). Expressed breast milk (EBM) provision was higher in groups A and B (3 months: 76%, 76%, 24% (p < 0.001); 6 months: 83%, 87%, 32% (p < 0.001); and negatively predicted EBF at 6 months (OR no EBM 5.07, 95% CI [1.56, 16.5]). The pumps were equally effective for milk expression at 6 weeks. Pump provision did not significantly influence breastfeeding practices or attainment of goals but resulted in higher EBM provision, which was associated with lower EBF but not other breastfeeding categories at 6 months.

Keywords: breast pump; breastfeeding; efficacy; expressed milk; milk expression; randomised trial.

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Conflict of interest statement

MF and KK receive an unrestricted research donation from Philips Avent. MF has lectured at scientific meetings organised by Prolacta Bioscience. RS has received research funding from Abbott nutrition and is a speaker for Prolacta Biosciences.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT flow diagram
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean milk weight at 1‐min intervals for breast 1 and breast 2 (estimated means from repeated measures analysis of variance) expressed over 10 min according to randomised pump for whole cohort
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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