Parent Reports of Exclusive Breastfeeding After Attending a Combined Midwifery and Chiropractic Feeding Clinic in the United Kingdom: A Cross-Sectional Service Evaluation.

This service evaluation investigated an interdisciplinary allied professional health care strategy to address the problem of suboptimal breastfeeding. A clinic of midwives and chiropractors was developed in a university-affiliated clinic in the United Kingdom to care for suboptimal feeding through a multidisciplinary approach. No studies have previously investigated the effect of such an approach. The aim was to assess any impact to the breastfeeding dyad and maternal satisfaction after attending the multidisciplinary clinic through a service evaluation. Eighty-five initial questionnaires were completed and 72 (85%) follow-up questionnaires were returned. On follow-up, 93% of mothers reported an improvement in feeding as well as satisfaction with the care provided. Prior to treatment, 26% of the infants were exclusively breastfed. At the follow-up survey, 86% of mothers reported exclusive breastfeeding. The relative risk ratio for exclusive breastfeeding after attending the multidisciplinary clinic was 3.6 (95% confidence interval = 2.4-5.4).

Suboptimal breastfeeding is a recognized problem among mothers and health care professionals worldwide. According to government statistics, 81% of UK mothers initiate breastfeeding, 46% exclusively breastfeed at 1 week declining to 23% at 6 weeks.[1] Despite the high initiation rate, only 1% of mothers exclusively breastfeed for the recommended length of 6 months,[1] and the United Kingdom remains one of the countries in the world with the lowest rates of exclusive breastfeeding.[2,3]

The World Health Organisation,[4] UNICEF,[5] and government policy in the United Kingdom[1] recommend exclusive breast milk until the age of 6 months. Extensive evidence has underlined several health benefits from exclusive breastfeeding including reduced risks for common childhood illnesses along with childhood leukemia and sudden infant death,[6] as well as reduced obesity, type 1 and 2 diabetes, and improved psychological health and emotional bonding.[6-8] In addition to health advantages, breastfeeding can be valuable financially and emotionally to the individual family as well as cost-effective to society.[9,10] Simply supporting women who breastfeed at 1 week to continue to 4 months could result in the National Health Service saving £11 million (US$19 million) annually.[11] More than £3.6 million ($5 million) could be saved in treatment cost of gastrointestinal infection, £6.7 million ($10 million) for respiratory tract infection, and £6 million ($9.3 million) for necrotizing enterocolitis and £750 000 ($1 million) for acute otitis media. In total, over £17 million ($26 million) could be saved annually by reducing just these 4 infant diseases.[12] Doubling the number of breastfeeding mothers could also reduce the incidence of breast cancer, saving £31 million ($47 million) annually and £959 million ($1.4 billion) in 2010 lifetime costs.[12]

Despite the benefits of breastfeeding and the risks of artificial feeding, there is little evidence for interventional strategies that change the trajectory toward suboptimal breastfeeding levels in the modern Western world in conjunction with assessing maternal satisfaction of the interventional experience. One in every 4 women in the United Kingdom is critical of their routine postnatal care and feeding support.[13] Ninety percent of mothers who quit breastfeeding stated they would like to have continued but did not have sufficient support.[1,14]

However, a variety of interventions have aimed to support breastfeeding mothers and enhance the rate of successful breastfeeding. Evidence suggests that advice, guidance, early skin to skin contact, and unrestricted feeding may assist mothers to overcome breastfeeding obstacles.[14-16] A 2012 study investigated the impact of additional breastfeeding support, compared with usual maternity care. The results demonstrated that all forms of extra support by both lay and professionals had some positive impact on breastfeeding outcomes; however, maternal satisfaction was poorly reported.[17]

Satisfaction has been described as the fulfilment of expectations, needs, or desires.[18] A few studies of maternal satisfaction have been identified. At a breastfeeding clinic in Quebec, 80% of 86 women reported being satisfied or highly satisfied with the clinic’s staff and care and agreed that it had enhanced their breastfeeding experience.[19] However, they did not measure or report any influence on long-term breastfeeding rates. At a Saskatchewan clinic, all of 43 respondents were satisfied with care and felt that the support they received helped them breastfeed.[20] However, the sample size was small and they did not demonstrate long-term breastfeeding rates.

There is modest evidence that manual therapy can be useful in solving the infant’s biomechanical problems that affect breastfeeding.[21-23] Midwives as well play a key role in achieving exclusive breastfeeding through their information and support to ensure effective positioning of the baby and attachment to the breast.[24] Midwives utilize the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative to support effective positioning and attachment.[5]

Both midwifery and chiropractic support were available separately to mothers prior to the development of the interdisciplinary clinic. As the process of suboptimal feeding is complex, combining professions could add value in addressing these problems. Evidence is lacking on this type of collaborative effort for suboptimal feeding; however, research has shown that there is a need for cooperation between health professionals to manage feeding difficulties efficiently.[21]

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate maternal perception and satisfaction, along with long-term rates of exclusive breastfeeding with a service evaluation during and after attendance at a chiropractic and midwifery multidisciplinary feeding clinic on the south coast of England.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional evaluation of service provided at a chiropractic teaching clinic incorporating the complementary profession of chiropractic and the allied profession of midwifery in the same setting during the time frame from February 2013 to October 2013. A service evaluation was considered appropriate as there was minimal research from other settings that both types of interventions showed some efficacy,[21-24] but there was no evidence for provision of using a dual service indicative of a need for a service evaluation.[25] This would inform any future large-scale study. This service evaluation was developed as an early step in research to address the question whether the unified approach of chiropractic and midwifery clinical care was a useful way forward to tackle the public health problem of suboptimal breastfeeding.

Questionnaires were developed as a pilot project by experienced researchers as there were no previously validated instruments for this purpose. Data collected were sociodemographic characteristics (maternal and infant ages, ethnic origin, type of birth) and graded responses to the clinical experience provided. Sampling was by convenience, and all mothers who presented to the clinic with an infant feeding complaint and could read and write English were included. All mothers entering the clinic signed a consent form for inclusion and were informed that their inclusion was voluntary and all information was confidential. They also consented to a postal questionnaire by writing their own name and address on an envelope, which was then sent approximately 6 to 12 weeks later to assess feeding practices timed to arrive (with a date in the corner) prior to predicted weaning age and to investigate feeding practices after common ages of cessation. Exclusive breastfeeding or not was considered a long-term outcome if occurring from 7 weeks of age, as less than one fourth of mothers in the United Kingdom exclusively breastfeed at 6 weeks[1] and other very large studies show that exclusive breastfeeding is exceedingly rare after that age.[26] The clinical experience included an obstetric-specific history taken by the midwife including delineation of breastfeeding difficulties. The midwives provided guidance and demonstration of correct holding and attachment recommended by UNICEF Baby Friendly Guidelines. The chiropractor provided a service that included a physical examination of the infant for biomechanical fault that could be related to suboptimal feeding and gave treatment with consent, where indicated. The infant’s suck technique was evaluated for rate, rhythm, suck-swallow-respiration cycle, masticatory muscle strength and tone, position of mandible, hyoid, general symmetry, and feeding efficiency, along with nociceptive input to mother.

Descriptive data analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS. Change was determined by the report of the mother because mothers have been shown to be excellent historians for their infant’s behaviors.[22] All data were held in complete confidentiality, and all reports were anonymous and untraceable to any specific mother or infant. A university ethics committee determined that these surveys were considered evaluations of a service provided and all ethical standards were met.

Results

During the time of the service evaluation, 85 mother-infant dyads entered the clinic. All 85 of the mothers were eligible for the study and completed the first questionnaire and agreed to receive a postal questionnaire. Follow-up surveys were sent 6 to 12 weeks after attendance at the clinic (to arrive at predicted time of weaning). There was a wide timeline in which the postal questionnaires were returned. Seventy-two mothers (85% response rate) returned the postal questionnaire. Figure 1 shows the flow of mother-infant dyads through the study.

Figure 1.

Flow of mother-infant dyads through interdisciplinary feeding clinic.

The figure shows flow of clients through the clinic with numbers and outcomes at each stage, including loss to follow-up.

Table 1 presents the demographic characteristics of mothers and babies attending the feeding clinic. When the first questionnaire was completed, 60% (n = 51) infants were 4 weeks of age or less. At the time of the follow-up questionnaire, 69% (n = 50) were 12 weeks and above. The median age of the mothers was 34 years. A full 96% (n = 81) were of white ethnic origin. Out of 85 infants, 48 (56%) had experienced an assisted birth.

Table 1.

Sociodemographic Characteristics of the Study Population.

	Percentage	Frequency
Age of infant at first visit (n = 85)
<7 days	10%	8
1-4 weeks	50%	43
5-8 weeks	28%	24
9-12 weeks	11%	9
>12 weeks	1%	1
Age of infants at follow-up (n = 72)
0-4 weeks	3%	2
5-8 weeks	14%	10
9-12 weeks	14%	10
13-16 weeks	22%	16
>16 weeks	47%	34
Mothers age, years (n = 84)
<18	1%	1
19-30	34%	28
31-40	63%	53
>40	2%	2
Ethnic origin (n = 85)
White British	85%	72
White (other)	11%	9
Indian, Pakistani	1%	1
Other Asian	1%	1
Black (other)	2%	2

The mothers could give more than one reason for attending the clinic. Eighty percent (n = 68) stated feeding-related problems, 42% (n = 36) had painful nipples, 39% (n = 33) reported having an unsettled baby, 39% (n = 33) had pain during feeding, 24% (n = 20) presented with birth-related difficulties, 25% (n = 21) for weight loss, 9% (n = 8) attended due to their health, and 11% (n = 9) had other reasons for attending the clinic.

Maternal perception of the clinic is demonstrated in Table 2. At the first questionnaire after the clinical encounter, 100% (n = 85) of mothers agreed that they had understood the information given by the midwife. All the mothers understood the treatment done by the chiropractor (N = 80; 5 of the infants demonstrated no biomechanical fault and did not require chiropractic care). In all, 98% (n = 83) agreed that the clinic was well organized, planned to continue breastfeeding their baby, and would recommend the clinic to friends.

Table 2.

Maternal Perception of Experience in Feeding Clinic.

		Agree		Neither		Disagree
	Total N	%	n	%	n	%	n
1a	85	99%	84	1%	1	0%	0
2	85	99%	84	1%	1	0%	0
3	80	100%	80	0%	0	0%	0
4	85	100%	85	0%	0	0%	0
5	85	99%	83	1%	1	0%	0
6	85	98%	83	2%	2	0%	0
7	85	98%	83	2%	2	0%	0
8	72	93%	67	4%	3	3%	2

a1. I was listened to when describing my breastfeeding problems.

2. It was clearly explained why I was experiencing problems breastfeeding my baby.

3. I understood the treatment given by the chiropractor.

4. I understood the information given to me by the midwife.

5. I will continue to breastfeed my baby.

6. The clinic was well organized.

7. I would recommend this clinic to my friends.

8. The breastfeeding advice given to me at the clinic was helpful (postsurvey).

Several weeks later at the follow-up questionnaire, 93% (n = 67) reported improvement in infant feeding. Seven percent (n = 5) reported no difference in feeding after attending the clinic. Twenty-six percent of infants were exclusively breastfed at presentation to the clinic and 86% reported exclusive breastfeeding at follow-up. The relative risk ratio of exclusive breastfeeding after attending the clinic was 3.6 (95% confidence interval = 2.4-5.4), indicating that mothers were almost 4 times as likely to exclusively breastfeed after attending the clinic than before treatment.

Discussion

A growing amount of evidence reveals the importance to the health of both mother and baby of exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months of age and worldwide statistics show a devastatingly poor rate of success.

The main problem with exclusive breastfeeding is not uptake, but continuation past the first few days and weeks. Even in a highly motivated population, mothers commonly stopped by 3 weeks of age and if they had problems in the first month, they had a high risk for discontinuing full breastfeeding.[27] When the first questionnaire was completed, over half of the infants (60%) were 4 weeks of age or less and possibly at great risk of discontinuation of breastfeeding considering their reported problems. At the time of the follow-up questionnaire, most of the infants (69%) were 12 to 24 weeks of age. Government statistics report a low rate of exclusive breastfeeding with an average of 23% at 6 weeks and 1% by the recommended length of 6 months.[1] Our sample demonstrated that 71% of infants were solely breastfed following their intervention at the interdisciplinary clinic, which is much higher than the national UK average. An additional 15% were weaned onto solids alongside breastmilk resulting in a total of 86% of infants solely breastfeeding and no formula. This likely indicates a highly motivated population to breastfeed. However, only 26% were exclusively breastfeeding at first presentation to the clinic, showing a positive rate of change in breastfeeding after the intervention. Despite these positive findings, this type of evaluation cannot infer cause and effect, only associations. Mothers were almost 4 times more likely to exclusively breastfeed after attending the clinic than before the intervention. The narrow confidence interval suggests the results could be applicable to a wider population even though the sample size was small.

Maternal perception is essential when addressing reasons for improvement in breastfeeding rates, as continuous support, encouragement, and advice are important factors associated with successful breastfeeding.[24] This corroborates the findings from our study where 93% of mothers reported an improvement in feeding after receiving information and support from the feeding clinic. Reassurance, positive affirmation, support to attach their baby more effectively, and information about breastfeeding were well received by most mothers. In fact almost all (98%) mothers claimed that they would continue breastfeeding after the intervention. This may have enhanced the breastfeeding rates, as positive attitude and determination are associated with longer duration of breastfeeding.[19]

At the follow-up questionnaire, 93% of mothers reported being satisfied with information given at the clinic (Table 2). The high rate of breastfeeding after attending the clinic may potentially be linked with the high maternal satisfaction rates as well as the highly motivated population. One should also consider that the average appointment lasts up to an hour, which is likely longer than many other individual support alternatives. The amount of time offered with each mother is a valuable advantage that may be difficult to find and may have a positive correlation with the outcome. The hour spent with the mother in the feeding clinic may in the long term also reduce costs to the UK National Health Service. Increasing duration of breastfeeding from 1 week to 4 months can reduce childhood diseases and save the health services £17 million ($26 million) annually in just 4 common infant disorders,[11] demonstrating the importance and perhaps even cost-effectiveness of spending sufficient time to address all the reasons for feeding difficulty. The time also allowed for 2 types of interventions, advice for mother and physical treatment for baby.

Mothers who are encouraged by their clinician are more likely to sustain feeding beyond 12 weeks.[28] However, nonspecific, inconsistent, and conflicting advice may cause the mother distress[29] and 25% of UK mothers were critical of their postnatal care and feeding support.[13] The clinic emphasized giving positive reinforcement along with contextualized and individualized treatment and information to each mother-infant dyad attending. Nearly all of mothers reported that they understood the explanation of why they were experiencing problems. Additionally, all mothers said they had understood the explanations by the midwife and the treatment given by the chiropractor to the infant suggesting that the clinic has been transparent in these areas.

Both psychological and biophysical factors may influence early cessation of breastfeeding.[30,31] It is therefore essential to take both aspects into consideration to address and treat the primary cause of feeding difficulties. Mothers that receive only information and support for breastfeeding technique may not get the desired result if the underlying cause is mechanical imbalance in the infant’s spine or muscles of mastication required for efficient feeding. It has been shown that infants suffering from a traumatic birth history often have dysfunctions of the spine and cranium, which can affect feeding ability.[31] A majority of infants in the clinic had an assisted birth, and evidence suggests a correlation between complicated births and early cessation of breastfeeding.[23,31-33] This emphasizes the importance of person-centered care in which both mother and baby are considered and that each case is treated as an individual problem. It also recognizes the fact that mothers’ feeding problems, though on the surface appearing similar, may have entirely different causes. The scope of possible problems is wide and a more generic approach such as group training and advice may not achieve the same results. The double approach of support from the midwife for the mother and treatment from the chiropractor for the baby may define a new approach that is more specific for each mother and baby.

A majority of infants presented to the clinic were diagnosed with muscular and biomechanical imbalances as well as positioning difficulties preventing them from feeding efficiently. Therefore, chiropractic care may be an important feature of management of infant’s neuromuscular dysfunction and may help improve feeding through treatments of specific biomechanical problems.[21-23,31] One should also consider that the mothers whose infants are being treated for musculoskeletal conditions may also need information and support with attachment having adopted compromised positions to cope with suboptimal feeding. The midwives at the clinic used UNICEF guidelines in order to provide mothers with an opportunity to learn the skill independently and simultaneously enhance her self-efficacy. This interdisciplinary clinic will continue to provide this type of care to support the public health agenda to improve breastfeeding rates in society.

The results from our study generated a testable hypothesis that collaboration between these professions that provide 2 different services that complement each other could improve breastfeeding rates. Furthermore, working side by side as midwife and chiropractor provided a valuable learning experience to gain knowledge from each other’s profession and the value of working as a team. Professions working together to enhance the patient experience may be beneficial for both patient and practitioners.

Limitations

There are several limitations to this study. Even though the questionnaire was anonymous, social desirability bias may have resulted in higher satisfaction scores since the first questionnaire was completed in the clinic. Another possible limitation is that the voluntary participation may have biased the result in a positive way. Evidence suggests that nonresponders tend to be less satisfied than responders.[34] Although the follow-up response rate in this study was high (85%), one can only speculate that the nonresponders may have less positive results.

Conclusions

The preponderance of evidence suggests that breastfeeding is the optimal nutrition for infants, emphasizing the importance of finding ways to enhance breastfeeding rates and assisting mothers and babies suffering from suboptimal feeding. The results from this study demonstrate high maternal satisfaction and improved breastfeeding rates associated with attending the clinic, although no cause and effect can be determined from this type of evaluation. The outcomes indicate that a cooperative approach between midwives and chiropractors can be a useful step toward effectively addressing the issue of suboptimal feeding. A testable hypothesis resulting from a service evaluation requires future research to determine if multidisciplinary care may provide additional benefits not accrued through routine care. Improving our understanding of what type of resources are helpful to the breastfeeding dyad has potential to positively influence public health.