Improvement in long-term breastfeeding for very preterm infants
Mary Sharp1, Catherine Campbell, Debbie Chiffings
1UWA Centre for Neonatal Education and Research , School of Paediatrics and Child Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Neonatal Clinical Care Unit , King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia .
Summary
Breastfeeding initiation and duration for very preterm (VP) infants significantly improved over time. Increased maternal endorsement of breastfeeding benefits contributed to these positive changes in infant nutrition.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Maternal-infant health
- Pediatric nutrition
Background:
- Breastfeeding offers extensive health benefits for both mothers and preterm infants.
- Establishing and maintaining breastfeeding for very preterm (VP) infants presents significant challenges.
- Understanding trends in breastfeeding VP infants is crucial for improving neonatal outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine changes in breastfeeding practices for very preterm infants over time.
- To compare breastfeeding initiation and duration between two distinct cohorts.
- To investigate the association between maternal attitudes and breastfeeding trends.
Main Methods:
- Two cohorts of parents of VP infants (<32 weeks gestation) were surveyed.
- Cohort 1 (C1) included 488 infants born between 1990-1992.
- Cohort 2 (C2) included 253 infants born between 2011-2012.
Main Results:
- Breastfeeding initiation rose from 65.6% in C1 to 96.8% in C2 (p<0.001).
- Exclusive breastfeeding duration exceeding 6 months increased from 25.8% in C1 to 41.4% in C2 (p<0.001).
- Maternal endorsement of breastfeeding benefits significantly increased from 11.4% in C1 to 45.8% in C2 (p<0.01).
Conclusions:
- Significant improvements in breastfeeding initiation and duration for VP infants were observed over time.
- Shifting maternal attitudes regarding the benefits of breastfeeding are associated with these improvements.
- Continued efforts to support breastfeeding are vital for optimizing health outcomes in preterm infants.
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