Direct-breastfeeding in the neonatal intensive care unit and breastfeeding duration for premature infants

Carrie-Ellen Briere; Jacqueline M McGrath; Xiaomei Cong; Elizabeth Brownell; Regina Cusson

doi:10.1016/j.apnr.2016.04.004

Direct-breastfeeding in the neonatal intensive care unit and breastfeeding duration for premature infants

Appl Nurs Res. 2016 Nov:32:47-51. doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2016.04.004. Epub 2016 Apr 13.

Authors

Carrie-Ellen Briere¹, Jacqueline M McGrath², Xiaomei Cong³, Elizabeth Brownell⁴, Regina Cusson³

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA; Institute for Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA; Institute for Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA.
³ School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA.
⁴ Connecticut Human Milk Research Center, Division of Neonatology, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA; School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA.

PMID: 27969051
DOI: 10.1016/j.apnr.2016.04.004

Abstract

Aim: To explore the relationship between direct-breastfeeding in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and breastfeeding duration after discharge.

Background: Initiating and maintaining breastmilk feeding is an important goal that begins in the NICU. Little is known about direct-breastfeeding in the NICU and its relation to breastfeeding duration.

Methods: Chart review of 46 infants (<32weeks gestational age or <1500 grams) whose mothers provided breastmilk.

Results: One month after discharge, mothers still providing breastmilk were more likely to have provided ≥1 direct-breastfeed per day in the NICU (21.16, CI: 3.13-143.25, p<0.01) and had prior breastfeeding experience (OR: 9.16, CI: 1.02-82.34, p<0.05). At 4months, mothers still providing breastmilk were more likely to have provided ≥1 direct-breastfeed per day in the NICU (OR: 12.80, CI: 1.39-118.32, p<0.05).

Conclusions: Direct-breastfeeding in the NICU may play an essential role in preparing mothers for breastfeeding after discharge, thus potentially impacting breastfeeding duration.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; Discharge; Neonatal intensive care unit; Outcomes; Premature infant.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Breast Feeding*
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature*
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal*
Retrospective Studies