Goiuri Alberdi1, Elizabeth J O'Sullivan2, Helena Scully3, Niamh Kelly4, Regina Kincaid5, Rosie Murtagh6, Stephanie Murray7, Denise McGuinness8, Ashamole Clive9, Mary Brosnan10, Lucille Sheehy11, Elizabeth Dunn12, Fionnuala M McAuliffe13. 1. UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: goiuri.alberdi@ucd.ie. 2. UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: osullivane@ucd.ie. 3. UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: helena.scully@ucd.ie. 4. UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: niamh.kelly.9@ucdconnect.ie. 5. The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: reginannette@hotmail.com. 6. The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: rosiemurtagh1@gmail.com. 7. Wexford General Hospital, Wexford, Ireland. Electronic address: stephlooney@hotmail.com. 8. The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: dmcguin@tcd.ie. 9. The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: clivea@tcd.ie. 10. The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: mbrosnan@nmh.ie. 11. The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: lsheehy@nmh.ie. 12. Wexford General Hospital, Wexford, Ireland. Electronic address: lizmcredmond@gmail.com. 13. UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland; The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: fionnuala.maculiffe@ucd.ie.
Abstract
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.
RCT Entities:
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.
Authors: Rosalia Ragusa; Marina Marranzano; Valentina Lucia La Rosa; Gabriele Giorgianni; Elena Commodari; Rosalba Quattrocchi; Salvatore Cacciola; Vincenzo Guardabasso Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-04-30 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Sharleen L O'Reilly; Eileen C O'Brien; Denise McGuinness; John Mehegan; Barbara Coughlan; Denise O'Brien; Marcelina Szafranska; Sophie Callanan; Shenda Hughes; Marie C Conway; Mary Brosnan; Lucille Sheehy; Rosie Murtagh; Lorraine O'Hagan; Stephanie Murray; Charmaine Scallon; Elizabeth Dunn; Paula Power; Marie Woodcock; Amy Carroll; Marie Corbett; Michelle Walsh; Regina Keogh; Fionnuala M McAuliffe Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Commun Date: 2021-04-08