Co-Development of an Evidence-Based Breastfeeding Support Intervention, Optimised for Delivery in Healthcare...

This intervention development study aimed to work with a wide range of stakeholders across the UK to integrate existing global evidence on the effectiveness and implementation of breastfeeding support for mothers with/without long-term conditions and co-develop a complex intervention optimised for delivery in healthcare settings. The intervention development process was informed by four systematic reviews, conducted alongside an embedded programme of co-production work between 2020 and 2025, involving: two stakeholder working groups (SWG) and two parent panels (PP) that met at regular intervals during the study; six focus group discussions (FGD) to ensure engagement with parents from socially disadvantaged groups; and 10 co-production workshops (Co-PW) involving parents, third sector organisations, healthcare practitioners, managers, commissioners, policymakers, and academics. Systematic reviews synthesised data from 116 randomised controlled trials and 16 process evaluations of breastfeeding support interventions for healthy mothers; and 22 trials and 24 studies on views/experiences of breastfeeding support in mothers with long-term conditions. The co-production work involved 23 stakeholders and 16 parents in SWG and PP meetings, 15 parents in FGD, and 128 stakeholders in Co-PW. The resulting Action for Breastfeeding (A4B) Programme comprised four core components (antenatal, postnatal, follow-up, and signposting) with associated implementation strategies, mechanisms of action, and outcomes for evaluation. Materials and guidance to support adoption and delivery were co-designed. The A4B Programme provides an evidence-based and co-produced intervention to deliver organised support for breastfeeding mothers in healthcare settings, with proposed adaptations for mothers with long-term conditions. Some uncertainties remain and these will be investigated in our future work.