Breastfeeding disruption during hospitalisation for bronchiolitis in children: a telephone survey

Hospitalisation for an acute bronchiolitis might lead to unwanted weaning off breast feeding for several reasons (respiratory distress, use of enteral or parenteral feeding, mothers tiredness, among others), yet it has never been really evaluated or quantified.

We conducted this telephone survey to evaluate breastfeeding disruption during hospitalisation for bronchiolitis and try to identify its determining factors for future interventions. This cross-sectional study extends over one epidemic season of bronchiolitis in a tertiary care hospital. All patients aged 6 months or younger hospitalised with acute bronchiolitis and receiving at least partial breast feeding were eligible for the study (n=144). Patients discharged home whose parents accepted to be contacted for a phone survey were included. Parents were contacted 3 months (range 0.5-6) after discharge.

Eighty-four patients were included in the study. Median length of hospital stay was 3 days (1; 34), and 27 patients spent some time in paediatric intensive care unit. Forty-three mothers stated that hospitalisation modified their breast feeding (17 stopped, 12 switched to partial breast feeding and 14 reduced without stopping). Mothers stated that the causes of breastfeeding disturbance were lack of support and advices (n=27) followed by child's respiratory disease (n=14), logistic hospital difficulties (n=13) and personal organisation issues (n=4).

Admission to hospital with bronchiolitis may adversely affect breast feeding. Correct advices and support could be a determining factor, and further studies should focus on preventive interventions.