An innovative low-cost breast pump-hire program to enhance breastfeeding rates in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Abstract

To evaluate the outcomes of a low-cost hospital-grade breast pump hire program for women experiencing financial hardship with infants in neonatal intensive care. A multi-method evaluation including data audits and surveys. Twenty-four electric breast pumps were purchased and rented to mothers at a cost of $1/day. To be eligible, mothers needed to have given birth to an infant <32 weeks and/or <1500 g and self-identified as experiencing financial hardship. Data were collected by (1) a retrospective audit to evaluate infant feeding and clinical outcomes at hospital discharge; (2) prospective telephone surveys to evaluate women's satisfaction with the program; and (3) analysis of the breast pump register to determine any loss or damages. Twenty-four mothers of 26 infants participated in the program. More than half of the infants were exclusively breastmilk fed at hospital discharge, and more than three-quarters were fed a combination of breastmilk and formula. Women who intended to formula feed were supported to provide breastmilk to their infants in the first few weeks of life. Most participants were highly satisfied with the program. Women reported that accessibility to a hospital-grade breast pump improved their ability to provide expressed breastmilk to their infants. Most participants were 'extremely satisfied' with the performance of the breast pump. One-quarter of the women reported that they would have exclusively formula-fed if they did not have access to the breast pump hire program. The audit of the equipment register showed no reported technical issues, loss or damages. The findings suggested that the low-cost breast pump hire program supported equitable care, increasing women's ability to provide expressed breastmilk for their infants. Providing access to low-cost hospital-grade breast pumps to mothers of vulnerable infants is likely to prevent poor infant clinical outcomes and improve women's care satisfaction. Nil.