TY - JOUR
T1 - A feasibility study of a multidimensional breastfeeding-support intervention in Ireland
AU - Alberdi, Goiuri
AU - O'Sullivan, Elizabeth J.
AU - Scully, Helena
AU - Kelly, Niamh
AU - Kincaid, Regina
AU - Murtagh, Rosie
AU - Murray, Stephanie
AU - McGuinness, Denise
AU - Clive, Ashamole
AU - Brosnan, Mary
AU - Sheehy, Lucille
AU - Dunn, Elizabeth
AU - McAuliffe, Fionnuala M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2018/3
Y1 - 2018/3
N2 - Background Breastfeeding is the optimum mode of infant feeding. Despite this, most global populations do not achieve the World Health Organisation's recommendation of exclusive breast milk for the first 6 months of life. Irish breastfeeding rates are among the lowest in Europe, necessitating a well-designed breastfeeding-support intervention. Aim To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a multidimensional breastfeeding intervention in a rural and an urban maternity setting in Ireland. Design A feasibility study of a breastfeeding-support intervention. Setting Participants were recruited from The National Maternity Hospital (Dublin, urban) and Wexford General Hospital (Wexford, rural). Questionnaires were completed antenatally, at 6 weeks postpartum and at 3 months postpartum to assess acceptability of the intervention and determine breastfeeding status. Participants Pregnant women were recruited in the 3rd trimester, alongside a support partner. Intervention The intervention consisted of an antenatal class (including the physiology and practical approaches to breastfeeding), a one-to-one breastfeeding consultation with a lactation consultant after birth, access to a breastfeeding helpline, online resources, and a postnatal breastfeeding support group which included a one-to-one consultation with the lactation consultant. Results One hundred women from The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin and 27 women from Wexford General Hospital were recruited. The antenatal class was attended by 77 women in Dublin and 23 in Wexford; thus, 100 women participated in the intervention. Seventy-six women had a one-to-one postnatal consultation with a lactation consultant in Dublin and 23 in Wexford. Fifty and 45 women in Dublin, and 15 and 15 in Wexford responded to the 6-week and 3-month questionnaires, respectively. At 3 months postpartum, 70% of respondents from Dublin and 60% from Wexford were breastfeeding. Mothers perceived the one-to-one consultation with the lactation consultant during postnatal hospitalization as the most helpful part of the intervention. Inclusion of a support partner was universally viewed positively as a means to support the mother's decision to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Conclusion This multidimensional intervention is well-accepted and feasible to carry out within an Irish cohort, in both urban and rural areas. Data from this feasibility study will be used to design a randomized controlled trial of a breastfeeding-support intervention.
AB - Background Breastfeeding is the optimum mode of infant feeding. Despite this, most global populations do not achieve the World Health Organisation's recommendation of exclusive breast milk for the first 6 months of life. Irish breastfeeding rates are among the lowest in Europe, necessitating a well-designed breastfeeding-support intervention. Aim To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a multidimensional breastfeeding intervention in a rural and an urban maternity setting in Ireland. Design A feasibility study of a breastfeeding-support intervention. Setting Participants were recruited from The National Maternity Hospital (Dublin, urban) and Wexford General Hospital (Wexford, rural). Questionnaires were completed antenatally, at 6 weeks postpartum and at 3 months postpartum to assess acceptability of the intervention and determine breastfeeding status. Participants Pregnant women were recruited in the 3rd trimester, alongside a support partner. Intervention The intervention consisted of an antenatal class (including the physiology and practical approaches to breastfeeding), a one-to-one breastfeeding consultation with a lactation consultant after birth, access to a breastfeeding helpline, online resources, and a postnatal breastfeeding support group which included a one-to-one consultation with the lactation consultant. Results One hundred women from The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin and 27 women from Wexford General Hospital were recruited. The antenatal class was attended by 77 women in Dublin and 23 in Wexford; thus, 100 women participated in the intervention. Seventy-six women had a one-to-one postnatal consultation with a lactation consultant in Dublin and 23 in Wexford. Fifty and 45 women in Dublin, and 15 and 15 in Wexford responded to the 6-week and 3-month questionnaires, respectively. At 3 months postpartum, 70% of respondents from Dublin and 60% from Wexford were breastfeeding. Mothers perceived the one-to-one consultation with the lactation consultant during postnatal hospitalization as the most helpful part of the intervention. Inclusion of a support partner was universally viewed positively as a means to support the mother's decision to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Conclusion This multidimensional intervention is well-accepted and feasible to carry out within an Irish cohort, in both urban and rural areas. Data from this feasibility study will be used to design a randomized controlled trial of a breastfeeding-support intervention.
KW - Breastfeeding
KW - Feasibility study
KW - Lactation consultant
KW - Multidimensional breastfeeding support
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85040460504&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.midw.2017.12.018
DO - 10.1016/j.midw.2017.12.018
M3 - Article
C2 - 29324318
AN - SCOPUS:85040460504
SN - 0266-6138
VL - 58
SP - 86
EP - 92
JO - Midwifery
JF - Midwifery
ER -