[Breastfeeding in neonatal intensive care: description of a change]

The results of a program to promote breast feeding in a neonatal intensive unit are presented. Data on all newborns admitted during the first three days of life in a neonatal intensive unit in the first semester of 1998 and 2000 were collected. Of the 100 newborns admitted in 1998 data were collected on 76 and on 50/61 admitted in 2000. Information on breast feeding practices at home were collected by phone interview to the mothers. The support program offered consisted in a room for breast milk collection with professional electric breast pump; a short information sheet on how to collect breast milk; cushions and armchairs to improve mothers comfort; an educational course for nurses on how to promote breastfeeding; and the availability of professional consultants before admission and after discharge. The newborns were comparable for the main characteristics. The number of mothers that collected the milk in the first three days did not change (from 72 to 80%). An increase was observed in the number of milk collections a day: 62% of the mothers collected the milk more than 4 times a day (compared to less than 35% in 1998) and the length of duration of milk collection increased from 21+/-24 days in 1998 to 42+/-44 in 2000 (p=0.01). Also the number of newborns breast feed increased from 21.2% in 1998 to 64% in 2000 (p=0.001). The change observed is encouraging, although not optimal. Further efforts need to be implemented with different strategies (information sheets, and the promotion of new milk collection techniques) to improve the results.