Assessing the Impact of Telehealth Lactation Support on Initiating and Sustaining Breastfeeding Among Medicaid...

Background: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for a minimum of 6 months; however in Arkansas, only 23.8% of mothers are exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months, despite an 81.2% breastfeeding initiation rate. Easy access to professional lactation consultants through telehealth can reduce barriers to prolonged breastfeeding through continuity of education, troubleshooting for problems, and positive emotional support. The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of virtual lactation visits with a lactation consultant on sustaining breastfeeding at 2 months postnatal. Methods: A total of 100 pregnant women were recruited, with 39 lost to follow-up. Participants received lactation support via telehealth with appointments at approximately 2 days, 7 days, 1 month, and 2 months post-discharge. Quantitative analysis included descriptive statistics and paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to evaluate pre- and post-survey changes in breastfeeding knowledge. Results: Sixty-one participants completed both pre- and post-surveys. Infant feeding intention scores were high, with an average score of 13.08 ± 3.09 out of 16. The Vermont Breastfeeding Attrition Prediction Scale scores were high, which had an average score of 21.93 ± 5.67 out of 38, with scores >20 indicating a high likelihood to sustain breastfeeding. Breastfeeding knowledge was significantly increased (p < 0.0001) after the telelactation intervention, with an average pre-survey score of 70.26 ± 5.40 and post-survey average score of 74.77 ± 4.31. Conclusion: Findings of this study underscore the effectiveness of telelactation in enhancing breastfeeding education and support, emphasizing its potential as a critical resource for sustaining breastfeeding practices.