Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Observational Study
. 2023 Apr 25;15(9):2075.
doi: 10.3390/nu15092075.

Weekly Proactive Telephone Breastfeeding Standard Care by Lactation Consultants in the First Month Postpartum Prolongs Breastfeeding for Up to 6 Months

Wei Qi Fan  1   2 , Christopher Chan  1 , Susan Paterson  1 , Kathryn Foster  1 , Michelle Morrow  1 , Debra Bourne  1 , Jodie Ashworth  3
Affiliations
Observational Study

Weekly Proactive Telephone Breastfeeding Standard Care by Lactation Consultants in the First Month Postpartum Prolongs Breastfeeding for Up to 6 Months

Wei Qi Fan et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Many mothers, especially those with co-morbidities, do not achieve exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 months, with the loss of multiple health benefits including enhanced infant nutrition. We wished to evaluate whether proactive lactation consultant telephone advice in the first month postpartum improved breastfeeding rates for up to 6 months. A prospective cohort observational study was performed. Mother groupings included the following: Control (CG, n = 379)-standard postnatal care; Exposure (EG, n = 386)-standard postnatal care delivered by lactation consultant telephone contact for the first 3 weeks postpartum and then follow-up calls at 1, 3 and 6 months postpartum to ascertain breastfeeding status. Sore nipples (24%) and fussy/unsettled behaviour (14-19%) were common EG concerns. EG EBF rates were higher at 1 month (65% vs. 53%; p < 0.001), 3 months (57% vs. 49%; p = 0.041) and 6 months (45 vs. 33%; p < 0.001). EG EBF rates across the 6 months were higher for infants admitted to the NNU (52.9% vs. 37.5%, p = 0.003), obese mothers (58.3% vs. 37.2%, p < 0.001), mothers with depression (60.8% vs. 43.4%, p = 0.036) and all birth modes. Proactive early lactation advice significantly prolongs EBF and consequently enhances infant nutrition overall, including for mothers at risk of early breastfeeding cessation.

Keywords: exclusive breastfeeding; lactation consultant; telephone support.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Participant Flow Diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Overall Feeding Outcomes for Mothers at Higher Risk of Early BF Cessation. Total number of data points across the 6 months (Exposure:control): (A) (187:184); (B) (123:148); (C) (74:76). EBF rates across the 6 months for infants admitted to the NNU: 53% vs. 38%, p = 0.003. EBF rates across the 6 months for obese mothers: 58% vs. 37%, p < 0.001. EBF rates across the 6 months for mothers with depression: 61% vs. 43%, p = 0.036. MIXED rates across the 6 months for infants admitted to the NNU: 30% vs. 18%, p = 0.022. MIXED rates across the 6 months for obese mothers: 18% vs. 3%, p = 0.040. All the above comparisons are for the Control Group and Exposure Group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Overall Feeding Outcomes for Mothers at Higher Risk of Early BF Cessation. Total number of data points across the 6 months (Exposure:control): (A) (187:184); (B) (123:148); (C) (74:76). EBF rates across the 6 months for infants admitted to the NNU: 53% vs. 38%, p = 0.003. EBF rates across the 6 months for obese mothers: 58% vs. 37%, p < 0.001. EBF rates across the 6 months for mothers with depression: 61% vs. 43%, p = 0.036. MIXED rates across the 6 months for infants admitted to the NNU: 30% vs. 18%, p = 0.022. MIXED rates across the 6 months for obese mothers: 18% vs. 3%, p = 0.040. All the above comparisons are for the Control Group and Exposure Group.
Figure 3
Figure 3
BMF Compared for Birth Mode. Data are cumulative for the 6 months of the study. NVD—normal vaginal delivery. Assisted—assisted vaginal delivery. LUSCS—caesarean delivery. NVD, p = 0.020; assisted, p = 0.044; LUSCS, p < 0.0001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council) Infant Feeding Guidelines: Summary, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra. [(accessed on 1 May 2018)];2013 Available online: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/infant-feeding-guidelines....
    1. Ridgway L., Cramer R., McLachlan H.L., Forster D.A., Cullinane M., Shafiei T., Amir L.H. Breastfeeding Support in the Early Postpartum: Content of Home Visits in the SILC Trial. Birth. 2016;43:303–312. doi: 10.1111/birt.12241. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ramiro-Cortijo D., Singh P., Liu Y., Medina-Morales E., Yakah W., Freedman S.D., Martin C.R. Breast Milk Lipids and Fatty Acids in Regulating Neonatal Intestinal Development and Protecting against Intestinal Injury. Nutrients. 2020;12:534. doi: 10.3390/nu12020534. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Koletzko B. Human Milk Lipids. Ann. Nutr. Metab. 2016;69((Suppl. S2)):28–40. doi: 10.1159/000452819. - DOI - PubMed
    1. George A.D., Burugupalli S., Paul S., Mansell T., Burgner D., Meikle P.J. The Role of Human Milk Lipids and Lipid Metabolites in Protecting the Infant against Non-Communicable Disease. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022;23:7490. doi: 10.3390/ijms23147490. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types