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. 2021 Feb;44(1):173-186.
doi: 10.1002/nur.22095. Epub 2020 Dec 15.

Description of an mHealth tool for breastfeeding support: LactApp. Analysis of how lactating mothers seek support at critical breastfeeding points and according to their infant's age

Alba Padró-Arocas  1 , Paola Quifer-Rada  1   2 , Laia Aguilar-Camprubí  1 , Desirée Mena-Tudela  3
Affiliations

Description of an mHealth tool for breastfeeding support: LactApp. Analysis of how lactating mothers seek support at critical breastfeeding points and according to their infant's age

Alba Padró-Arocas et al. Res Nurs Health. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Interventions in mHealth have had positive effects on establishing and maintaining breastfeeding, but we still do not know what content women consult when downloading a breastfeeding mobile application. We conducted an observational, descriptive, and retrospective study using the data recorded by LactApp in 2019. The most frequently consulted topics were those related to breastfeeding technique, infant sleep, human milk management and storage, breastfeeding myths, breastfeeding stages, complementary feeding, infant care, and returning to work. Our study results suggest that LactApp's support seems to develop with mothers' needs according to their infant's development stage. The first breastfeeding days include more physiological answers. Between 15 days and 3 months, mothers look for support in topics like breastfeeding crisis/complications and returning to work. At 3 months to 1 year, answers are related to complementary feeding and weaning. When the user's infant is 1 year of age, mothers seek support for weaning, weaning management, and tandem breastfeeding.

Keywords: breastfeeding application; breastfeeding crisis; breastfeeding support; mHealth.

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References

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